adminCARDIFF. – Anthony Joshua unified the WBA, IBF and WBO world heavyweight boxing titles with a controlled performance in a unanimous points win over Joseph Parker at a tense Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday night. The Briton (28) used his left hand to telling effect throughout an intriguing affair, in which New Zealand’s Parker displayed swift hands, movement and impressive durability.
But his WBO title always looked like it would end up round Joshua’s waist as a significant points gap opened up, with the favourite landing a hard left uppercut in round eight and two stinging left hooks early in the 10th.
Parker tagged his rival to howls of concern in the 11th and he deserves immense respect for becoming the first man to take Joshua to the scorecards, which read 118-110, 118-110, 119-109.
Joshua raised his right hand on ring announcer Michael Buffer’s reading of the cards and he now holds three of the four recognised world titles. Parker looked to the sky.
But the 26-year-old New Zealander played his part in a compelling evening and brought colour to an intriguing build-up.
Never before had two world champions from the glamour division met to unify titles on British soil. For the away fighter this was a whole new level of scrutiny; for Joshua, it was a third consecutive stadium fight, with a cumulative 250 000 seats sold in the process.
Each fighter walked to the ring to an accompaniment of strobe lights, flames and fireworks, with the estimated 78 000 in attendance providing a glittering background as smart phones lit up the tiers.
When the bell rang, Parker looked sharp, flicking his left jab to keep his opponent at bay and maintaining a guard with just his right hand, compared with two high hands from Joshua. – BBC Sport
Online Reporter