You won?t find many people who predict Joseph Parker to beat Anthony Joshua on Saturday for the unified heavyweight championship. Even though neither has suffered a loss in their pro careers and even though both have title belts (Joshua holds two, Parker holds one, and the winner will take possession of all three), it?s widely seen that Joshua will triumph against Parker.
Joseph Parker, right, defended his title vs. Hughie Fury in September. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
Heck, just look at the betting odds. As of this writing, Joshua is a -900 favorite, meaning you?d have to bet $900 on Joshua to win $100, while Parker is +550, meaning you?d win $550 by betting $100.
It?s not difficult to understand why. Joshua, who?s No. 2 on the Pound-For-Pound Moneymakers list, has had the more illustrious victories and the more impressive knockouts. He?s one of the most exciting fighters in the sport. Parker hasn?t looked great in his last couple of fights vs. Andy Ruiz and Hughie Fury, and he doesn?t have the kind of fight-ending power that his opponent possesses?at least at the world-class level.
But Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) is a live underdog who could pull off the upset.
?I?m going to beat Joshua,? Parker said at a press conference this week. ?I haven?t decided how I want to beat him yet. I don?t know if it?s a knockout or if it?s points or decision. We?ll see how I feel on fight night. But I?m going to be undefeated going home with the belts. These are mine.?
