Anthony Joshua speaks during a Press Conference. Photo / Getty Images
Anthony Joshua speaks during a Press Conference. Photo / Getty Images
Anthony Joshua has warned his opponent Joseph Parker that the noise levels at Cardiff's Principality Stadium will affect his psyche and emotions next Saturday night, when 80,000 fans roar as the two huge fighters meet in the first heavyweight unification contest to be held on British soil. Parker, insisted Joshua, will never have experienced anything like it.
"It does affect you, it's crazy," said Joshua, who fights for the third successive time in a stadium, admitting that it can "swallow someone whole". However, the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation heavyweight champion believes his familiarity with the ambience will allow him to exact his game plan "like an assassin, a sniper, to break his spirit and mentality".
"A certain amount of noise can smash glass based on the frequency. And that sort of noise, the booming, gets to you in a fight, and in the dressing room," the 28-year-old, who has 20 knockouts from 20 fights, explained.
Anthony Joshua looks on during a media workout. Photo / Getty Images
"You can become desperate. But, honestly, in terms of my 20 fights, I always step into the ring and I feel comfortable. The Carlos Takam fight [at the Principality Stadium last October] was the first time I felt, 'cool, I want this atmosphere'. I tried to block the noise out before, but that was a big mistake. You have to ride the energy. You use too much emotional energy trying to block it out because there's so much noise. You just have to embrace it because it's overpowering. Some of these swimmers come in with their headphones, but I can't do that."
"I was watching a video of Evander Holyfield when he fought Lennox [Lewis] and he was singing in the ring walk. They're just trying to embrace it."
There are certain situations you feel comfortable in yourself and certain situations you can handle. But you see some people who aren't comfortable in certain situations. They're fidgety, they're not who they really are and that's what happens sometimes when you're in an arena you haven't been in before in front of so many people. It can force you to act out of character."
Parker's team have insisted that he is "ice cool", with trainer Kevin Barry telling Telegraph Sport: "The big thing in this fight, as it is in life, and indeed in all sport, is how you can act and control your emotions. Joe has always been ice cool. With preparation comes confidence, and if you prepare properly there's no reason to doubt yourself or be anxious. We have never prepared better than this fight."
Joshua insisted on Saturday that it was inevitable that World Boxing Organisation champion Parker, unbeaten himself, would be affected by the atmosphere. "Everyone is different. I don't know how he will deal with it but from my point of view, there were so many eyes on you. You become desperate and start questioning everything. Are my boots right? Are my shorts right? Do I look all right? Until you feel comfortable being yourself in that situation…"
Given the clamour surrounding Joshua, promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that, providing he continues to win, every outing in the United Kingdom will be in a stadium.
Joseph Parker training ahead of his World Heavyweight Title fight on 31 March 2018. Photo / Photosport
"Someone asked me, if I get Parker hurt, will I go in and execute. That's where you have to be a bit clever and do what you did to get them hurt," said Joshua.
"It's learning how to execute in more of an assassin style rather than as a brave warrior riding through on a horse slinging a weapon and killing everyone. They get chopped up as well. I'm trying to be a sniper. That's probably my mindset now, to be a bit more calculating." The contest is no foregone conclusion. Joshua, potentially two fights away from being the first man to hold all four heavyweight belts – the other champion is World Boxing Council belt holder Deontay Wilder, undefeated in 40 fights – sees Parker as a talented opponent deserving of his crack at a unification fight.
"He has his amateur pedigree, and he's very talented. He's here in a unification fight and he's worthy of being in that position. His trainer Kevin Barry is experienced, he was a fighter himself and has trained championship fighters. Now he has Joseph Parker. I'm dealing with a guy who has his country behind him, that obviously gives him a little bit of fuel as well. He's a man of pride.
"But, no matter about all these positive things I say about him, my job is to just break him down. I just want him to realise when he goes back to his corner after round one, that his trainer lied to him. What Kevin Barry said about speed – I'll match him for speed. I'll match him for combination punches and footwork. You know when they tell you, 'You can hit him with a left hook', and it isn't happening. 'You can hit him with a right hand', and it isn't happening. 'He's going to gas in round six or round seven, he has stamina problems', and I'm still there. 'He can't take a punch', and I'm still there in round whatever. He'll soon realise he's in with a real champion. One hundred per cent I will break his spirit and mentality."
Joshua even took time to aim a sideswipe at returning British rival Tyson Fury. "I don't even like talking about him. If he returns, it's his destiny to fight me. I've done what I've done with or without Tyson. I was going to do what I was going to do with or without Tyson. Tyson is in his own lane and I'm in mine. You'll have to ask him if his years away will affect him.
"I don't really care. All I care about right now is defeating Joseph Parker and staying on course to unify the world title."
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