Anthony Joshua is the most talked about fighter in heavyweight boxing right now; but that does not mean he is the only contender to potentially be the next undisputed champion of the world. Joshua may be the favourite to be the first man to accomplish the feat since Lennox Lewis. But there are two others who are currently in the frame; one is WBC champion Deontay Wilder, the other is Joseph Parker who Joshua fights on 31 March 2018.
The victor from this bout will unify the IBF, WBA and WBO titles. Joshua is odds on with the bookmakers to achieve this. But, it’s not a good idea to rule out the young Kiwi boxer.
- Advertisement -
Betting On The Fight
If you believe the majority opinion, Joshua is certain to be successful against the challenge of current WBO champion Parker. There is little value to be had from betting on the British fighter as he is the odds on favorite.
For anyone looking for decent Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker betting odds, there is better value to be had from going in a different direction, such as the 14/1 odds being offered by Ladbrokes on a Joshua win in round one, or the 10/1 odds available from Betfair on both fighters being knocked to the canvas. It’s also worth going against the majority, and taking the 6/1 odds from Paddy Power that Parker will beat Joshua. The younger man certainly has the speed and strength to cause problems for his opponent.
- Advertisement -
Can Parker Really Win?
Joseph Parker may be the underdog, but this does not mean that he can be written off. As Evander Holyfield recently stated, Parker has fast and powerful fists. These fists are a dangerous weapon no matter who he is fighting, as can be seen from the fact that Parker has not suffered a defeat in 25 appearances in the ring. He has also never been knocked down.
It will be interesting to see how Joshua deals with the power and stamina of Parker. He certainly had good preparation for the challenge with his hard fought victory over Carlos Takam. Currently, Joshua looks set to be lined up to fight the recently victorious Deontay Wilder. But, all of this is likely to change if Parker fulfils his potential with a victory at the Principality Stadium.
- Advertisement -
There is no doubt that current odds of 1/10 show that most people are expecting a Joshua win on 31 March, but there is always the potential for upsets in heavyweight boxing. This is especially the case when the underdog is as powerful and successful as Joseph Parker. His victory in the fight against Hughie Fury may not have been convincing, but Parker still has plenty in his armoury to threaten Joshua. The British fighter is definitely the current pin-up of heavyweight boxing, and has helped bring the sport back to life, but Parker is well capable of bursting the Joshua bubble in Cardiff.