Anthony Joshua has moved a step closer to becoming the undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion after beating New Zealand’s Joseph Parker.
Joshua won the 21st win in a row match with a unanimous points decision by three judges.
He now holds three of the four major world championships on offer in the heavyweight division, viz:
- the World Boxing Organization (WBO)
- the International Boxing Federation (IBF), and,
- the World Boxing Association (WBA)
Anthony Joshua speaking to Sky Sports after the fight, said:
“This was about boxing finesse – I stuck to my word. I know what it takes to be a champion.
“Joshua Parker said he wanted a war, but it was all about boxing finesse.
“The main thing we cannot forget is that I am the unified heavyweight champion of the world.”
The 28-year-old, 6.8ft British, born of Nigerian parents from Sagamu, stepped into the ring to defend his three undisputed world heavyweight boxing championship belts.
He now added his 6.4ft opponent and world champion, 26-year-old Joseph Parker’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) title in a unification contest.
The contest promised fury, blood, knockdown and knockout between two undefeated boxers with a combined 44 ring victories and 38 knockouts.
Like Anthony Joshua, Joseph Parker stepped into the ring a leaner, lighter and sharper boxer at 16st 12lbs 7oz.
Both boxers emphasized power punch, counter punching, foot work, finesse, defence etc. that ultimately resulted to a first emotional defeat for the looser.
The contest took place at the 78,000-capacity Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, which is the first time a world heavyweight boxing unification bout will be taking place in Great Britain.
The match also marked the second time in history that two reigning, undefeated, world boxing champions with perfect records will be trading punches, according to CompuBox research.
Further, it marked the third time in sports history that a British-born boxer would be unifying and holding at least three undisputed world boxing titles at the same time.
With the win, Anthony Joshua became the fifth boxer in history to hold three world heavyweight boxing titles at the same time and first to hold four in total.
