Joseph Parker's camp 'clutching at straws' calling out Anthony Joshua's 'glass jaw' - David Price

  • 20/01/2018
The man who dropped Anthony Joshua in training isn't a fan of saying Joshua has a "glass jaw".
The man who dropped Anthony Joshua in training isn't a fan of saying Joshua has a "glass jaw". Photo credit: Getty Images

British boxer David Price believes Joseph Parker's camp is "clutching at straws" by making a big deal of Anthony Joshua's "glass jaw".

Joshua and Parker have agreed to put their IBF, WBA Super, IBO and WBO belts and unbeaten records on the line at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on April 1 (NZ time).

Before the fight was made official, Parker's camp called out Joshua's suspect chin, which saw his promoter, Duco Events, release a video montage showing Joshua getting dropped in training. The video in question was from 2011, when Price dropped a young Joshua in a training session.

Speaking to Brendan Telfer on RadioLIVE's Saturday Sport, Price believes Duco is trying to play mind games by showing a seven-year-old video of Joshua falling to the canvas.

"It seemed like they were clutching at straws trying to find a fault in Anthony Joshua, because he has been pretty faultless apart from getting put down against Wladimir Klitschko, which is no disgrace.

"Bringing up a sparring session from seven years ago that they weren't involved in was mind games for them, but I think they know deep down that it isn't going to be an issue on the night.

David Higgans and Joseph Parker.
David Higgans and Joseph Parker. Photo credit: Photosport

"At the same time, they can be confident without having to think about weakness and instead they should think about Parkers' strengths, because he is a world champion in his own right so he has every right to go in there with confidence himself."

Joshua last fought in November, when he beat Carlos Takam at Principality Stadium and won with an 11th-round TKO.

Despite winning, Price saw Takam expose some weaknesses in Joshua's game and he is confident 26-year-old Parker has the skills to exploit those weaknesses.

"I think Takam gave a little bit of a blueprint in how to frustrate Joshua and go into the later rounds, and that is to keep moving and getting in with your own shots and getting out quickly, and Parker is capable of doing that.

"If Parker can time his attacks, then he can outdo Joshua, and if Parker can get his head moving and have fast feet to dart in and out, then Anthony Joshua's reach will be negated. But it all depends on the night.

"He's in with a chance. I think Joshua is the favourite but you can't rule out somebody who is already world champion themselves."

Joseph Parker.
Joseph Parker. Photo credit: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Deontay Wilder's trainer, Jay Deas, says he is backing Joshua to win the fight, in large part thanks to Parker's lack of experience dealing with big fights.

"The stuff inside the ring, he's fine. I think if you put him and Joshua in the ring where nobody is around, it's an even fight, but when you add all the extra stuff, you have to see if Joseph Parker is comfortable in that surrounding," he tells RadioLIVE.

Price shares very similar thoughts to Deas; however, he also thinks it could play into Parker's favour.

"With an up to 90,000 it's going to be something different for Joseph Parker, stepping up in front of that many people.

"At the same time he is going in as the underdog, so he has so much to gain. He has the belts to gain, but he has his own belt to lose, which makes it an intriguing matching."

Thirty-four-year-old Price will likely get to watch the fight up close after being offered a deal to fight Alexander Povetkin on the main undercard in the Cardiff bout. He is hoping to put on a strong performance and claim what would be his 23rd career win.

"I've been offered a fight against Alexandra Polevkin, who is I think next in line to fight the winner of this fight, and he's a top fighter...

"I'm hoping that we can get across the line. It would be a massive opportunity for me to get involved in their heavyweight mix, which is taking off at the moment."

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