Anthony Joshua to fight Joseph Parker in heavyweight world title unification bout in Cardiff

Anthony Joshua will fight New Zealand’s WBO heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on 31 March, it has been confirmed.

The 28-year-old unbeaten Briton, who already holds the IBF and WBA heavyweight titles, will attempt to add a third world crown when he takes on fellow champion Parker in the Welsh capital after Matchroom Boxing reached a conclusion in their drawn-out talks with Parker’s camp.

Parker, two years younger than Joshua, also holds an unbeaten record, having won 18 of his 24 professional fights by knockout, although while Joshua has fought four fewer times than the Kiwi, he still boasts a 100 per cent stoppage history having not yet been taken the distance by anyone that he has faced.

Joshua has fought just once since beating the now retired Wladimir Klitschko, which came in a 10th-round stoppage of Frenchman Carlos Takam in October last year – also in Cardiff – having been originally slated to face Kubrat Pulev only for injury to prevent the Bulgarian from competing.

“I would like to announce the official news that myself and Joseph Parker will be fighting on March 31 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff,” said Joshua. “It is a unification heavyweight championship fight, we all know what happened last time I was in a unification heavyweight championship fight, it was gruelling, it was interesting and we both left the ring with masses of respect.

“These fights aren’t easy because there is a lot on the line, so respect to team Parker for taking the challenge. And you know me, I love this game. I am looking forward to it, training camp is underway and before you know it March 31 will be upon us. Stay tuned for more news and I will see you all soon, God bless.”

Parker has been outspoken in his pursuit of Joshua, having held numerous press conferences in Auckland to try and coax Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, into entering talks over a unification bout. Part of Parker’s approach has been to taunt Joshua for his supposed “glass chin”, and the Kiwi made reference once again of his plans to expose his frail defence when the pair eventually meet.

“Anthony Joshua is in for a huge shock,” Parker said. “A couple of months ago I heard him say ‘why should I be worried about this little kid from New Zealand’?

“Well, now he’s about to find out. And the world is about to find out whether AJ can really take a punch. My entire existence is now devoted to proving what the boxing world already knows.”

The bout, which will be shown live on Sky Sports Box Office, will be Joshua’s sixth defence of the IBO title and the second of the WBA and IBO belts that he won in beating Klitschko, while Parker will defend the WBO championship for the third time having beaten Hughie Fury – younger cousin of former unified heavyweight champion Tyson Fury – last time out in September.