Joseph Parker Punching Harder After Surgery, Team Says

Undefeated records will be on the line next weekend when Joshua returns to Cardiff’s Principality Stadium for a unification clash with Joseph Parker and the excitement is ramping up for the monster heavyweight showdown.

Joshua did not speak to New Zealander or Samoan journalists, which certainly riled the WBO champ’s camp.

Wales-based journalist James Lloyd is covering the fight for the Samoa Observer.

“I’m a boxer”, Joshua said on the call.

“No one is on the journey anymore”, Joshua said Wednesday.

Joshua has now taken to social media to send strong words to his opponent ahead of the fight. “They’ve travelled a long way to see [Joshua], and they respect him”.

“He should just be a bit more respectful in talking to everyone who was there”.

Lupesoliai’s promoter, Segiali’i David Higgins, couldn’t agree more.

The snub highlights the growing tensions between the camps as the fight draws near.

And, if current IBF and WBA champion Joshua needed any extra motivation, a war of words with Parker in the build-up has only served to add fuel to his fire.

What about Joshua calling you “weird” recently?

According to the Telegraph, White is set to approach Joshua with a £353 million promotional deal in a bid to convince the British heavyweight to join UFC’s ranks.

Segiali’i was quick to fire back when pressed on the issue. He’s backed me from the get-go.

“A happy fighter is a good fighter” is his motto of late, and he is living up to it. I know he’s been talking about it for a while, haven’t seen anything yet.

Joshua said he has not spoken much about a fight with Wilder because he will let his management team handle that conversation.

“I think it was a very important decision for us to make. That’s not trash, it’s fact”, Segiali’i.

“Most professional athletes deal with injuries”. I’ve been riding with Eddie.

As mentioned above, if you’re not based in the United Kingdom and want to watch Joshua v Parker live, you won’t be able to access the Sky Sports coverage even with a VPN.

“It’s the calm before the storm now”. Ten years as a professional in any craft, let’s say you’re working in sales, if you can’t sell a person a Mercedes Benz, or whatever auto it is, you’ve got big issues.

Not that Joshua is underestimating New Zealand’s Parker.

“There’s a lot of bluster with Deontay but he’s not an idiot”. He said Parker, as an amateur, had fast hands and won on points, not knockouts. “He knows the risks against Joseph Parker”.

“There’s so many opinions and so many voices – if you keep listening to all of them how are you going to believe in yourself?”