Boxing: Joshua v Parker Preview

Three world heavyweight boxing titles are at stake this Saturday night in Cardiff Wales
Nigerian Born Anthony Joshua's IBF and WBA world titles will be on the line, as will Joseph Parker's WBO belt, in the first heavyweight unification bout in Britain.

Some 78,000 fans are expected at the Principality Stadium on fight night - a new level of scrutiny for Parker.

Joshua, 28, told the BBC that
"Even though it's a phenomenal atmosphere there is one ring, one referee. If I'm in any arena, you just have to simplify the madness and the chaos,"
Parker too seemingly opted for improved speed in the ring, coming in at 16st 12 lbs, a drop of nine pounds

On Saturday, Joshua will earn an estimated £15m and sell out a third stadium event in 11 months, taking the total of sold seats to a quarter of a million.
"This has never happened in British boxing before,"

Parker has not competed in front of more than 10,000 fans on any one night as a professional and this payday, rumoured to be close to £7m, will dwarf anything he has earned before.

The New Zealander, who started boxing from about the age of five, had a solid amateur career - including silver at the World Youth Championships in 2010.

Unlike Joshua, he has never been knocked down as an amateur or a professional, a fact his team have repeatedly pointed to since they began chasing this fight about a year ago.

Parker has since defeated Hughie Fury and had surgery on both elbows to correct pain he felt while punching.

His team say the operation has helped him punch 20% harder, and there is no doubt Parker will need improvements on recent displays if he is to defy bookmakers, who make Joshua a heavy favourite.

"There are no excuses from my side," Parker, 26, told BBC Sport. "I am 100% ready. No injury, no niggles, I back myself to be the best in the world, there's no need to be flinching.

"So many scenarios can play out in the first round. If it's down to me, I'm going to chase him."