Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum is not sold on the punch resistance of IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs).
Joshua is scheduled to take part in a unification clash with WBO champion Joseph Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) on March 31 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
In the lead-up to the fight, Parker and his team have focused in on Joshua's chin - which they believe is suspect in nature.
Arum, who has a promotional interest in Parker, agrees with his fighter and believes Joshua does indeed have a suspect chin.
"Joshua is a great fighter and very ballsy but I don't think he has a good chin. I really think his chin is suspect. Parker may not be the greatest boxer in the world but Parker has a chin like iron. I think Parker will stay in there with Joshua and he could knock Joshua out," Arum told Stuff.
HBO Boxing's longtime broadcast analyst Jim Lampley is going in the other direction. He's siding with Joshua to win - and do it by knockout.
"I think Joshua knocks Parker out. Parker is quick but I don't think he has enough to keep Joshua off him and Joshua's punch is special," Lampley said.
2016 Olympic gold medal winner Tony Yoka, who was recruited by Parker as a sparring partner for the fight, also chimed in with his take on the matter. While he believes Parker has a realistic shot to win the contest, he doesn't turn his back on the fact that Joshua is the favorite to walk away with all four world titles.
"Parker can take a punch, we've never seen him down. He has some good speed and some good skills. Joshua is strong but we saw him take some punishment against Klitschko and he had some difficulty against Takam. But Joshua is still the favorite," Yoka said.
2023-10-20 12:04:27
