I was really looking forward to the bill tonight but I though overall it was very poor, nearly every fight was one paced without much action.
Styles make fights. But refs can ruin them. Parker won 3 maybe 4 of the 12 for me. Right result. Most rounds close but only due to lack of action. Can't tell if Joshua was trying to pace himself or parker was awkward. Will have to watch sober. Parker seemed to only hope Joshua would punch himself out. He didn't. He won. With ease.
I felt that this would be the first time that he would do 12 rounds. I thought Parker won about 4 rounds, but much of that is down to the referee. Strangely it reminded me of Mayweather v Hatton were the referee wouldn’t let Hatton do his work on the inside. The referee tonight stifled Parker and ensured that Joshua could work him on the outside. He actually broke them up when they were exchanging blows against the ropes...madness. Joshua boxed well behind the jab, using his natural reach advantage. Ironic really because that’s what Fury does but he gets called boring. He did the job, controlled the pace of the fight, held the centre of the ring. His range on the jab was excellent and it was a deserved win. On a side note, I thought the sky coverage was appallingly biased. Parker’s work was ignored. For a second I thought AJ dipped from a shot in the 11th but there was nothing in the replays. Maybe I imagined it. No wonder AJ doesn’t want to fight abroad. He has all the advantages, but then again, you can’t blame him.
Totally agree and Adam Smith certainly needs to stick his mike right up his arris as his commentary on the Price v Povetkin fight was absolutely shocking as well.
Great post, spot on m8. I was shouting at tv this ref thinks he's the Italian Joe Cortez. Parker did indeed make Joshuas knee buckle with an uppercut, as you say Sky missed it convenietly. Peter Fury tweeted suggesting it was right result but AJ won't be allowed to lose on points whilst on Sky. I was thinking the same whilst watching fight.
Thought i’d imagined it, thanks mate. It was in the 11th, it looked like he dipped with an uppercut but there was absolutely no reference to it from Sky.
This content is protected Found some previous footage of the referee they used for the AJ-Parker fight....
I think Parker bought into the AJ has no stamina hype. He thought AJ would get tired without doing the work. If you don't make AJ work he will stroll it. Allowing AJ to fight at a pace he wanted and hoping he gets tired was a bad move..
Joshua is the guy defnding the top of the mountain now not marauding to sieze it. Boring but effective from him
They both lost the fight! However, you have to blame the idiot referee on a lot of it, when they would start mixing it up, the referee would jump in and stop them from fighting! A horrible referee! The judges should be ashamed also, those scores were terrible! That fight could have been called a draw because neither did any real fighting, no significant punches landed by either. There were a lot of even rounds, I have no real problem with Joshua squeaking out a decision, but it was a very close razor thin fight! Those judges had an agenda! It was no shutout for sure and Joshua did not deserve to win that many rounds, no way. All they did was pose a lot, jab, land nothing, Parker did land a few good punches, Joshua landed a few, but that was it. Boring as hell! I was very disappointed! Although both are much better than Wilder, I think Povetkin would knock them both out, including Wilder! Parker did hurt Joshua a couple times, but Joshua never hurt Parker at all........................If Fury gets into shape, he will clean up, he will beat Joshua, Parker, Wilder, no doubt about it. Povetkin has been blackballed, he was cleared by VADA after VADA admitted they made a mistake, but Haymon would not allow his WBC to let the fight happen, Povetkin, esp. at that time would have knocked Wilder out! Wilder if still afraid of Joshua, I don't think he will every fight Joshua, Joshua has too many skilled for Wilder, so does Parker and Povetkin..................
No because Joshua was wanting fight at distance. When your the smaller man you need to be in close to tea off so it definetly had a bigger effect on Parkers game.
Joshua boxed well, very intelligently using his reach. I give him full credit. I thought Parker would beat him, and a I believe Parker is definitely his best win to date. It was a clear win for Joshua but it wasn't at all easy for him. Parker is a top fighter and had his moments. The referee was awful and cost Parker some of his best chances of success, but he ruined things for Joshua a couple of times too. I wouldn't give any credence to anything anyone working commentary for SKY says in a Joshua fight. The bias is bound to be off the scale, so I'm glad I watched this in a noisy pub where I could hardly hear the SKY bullsheet.
Yes without a doubt, the ref was more considerate to AJs strategy. Which federation was the judge from.