Is Joseph Parker stepup for Joshua?

No

 

I rate Parker for hand speed and his decent punching power, i think hes too easy a target for Joshua and i see him being taken out in the first 5. His feet are terrible and i think you need too have good feet to beat Joshua.

 

Anyone is a step up for Joshua. No more old guys, no more Takams, Breazeales, Martins or Wilders leftovers.

 

Regardless of how old Wlad was and how long a layoff he had and the fact that he was coming off a loss, he looked very good against AJ and didn't fight like any of those above mentioned things. And TBH, that was probably the first and only time I have seen Wlad legitimately show any form of resilience and mental fortitude. This version of Parker isn't close to the fighter Wlad was when he lost to Joshua, but I think he is clearly the 2nd best opponent Joshua will have fought.

The interesting thing is this: for fighters to improve or move on to that "next level" they need the right or good enough opponent to bring it out of them. I don't think Parker will ever be close to a prime WK, but it's not an impossibility and if anyone can bring it out of him it's Joshua.

I don't wanna say that I think Parker and his style pose more or bigger problems to Joshua than Wlad did, that's something we won't know until the fight happens, but I think he and his style bring some aspects to the table that will give Joshua more and bigger problems than some aspects of WK and his style. Stylistically WK was a total nightmare for A LOT of HW's - especially if he also shows resilience for the first time in his career, but fighting at range with Joshua and WK isn't a great idea because that's where they both are at their best. Parker is a way better inside fighter and fighter in the pocket than WK, he has much better hand speed, similar if not better foot speed, and I think his chin is probably way better than WK's and he's almost undoubtedly a much more mentally tough boxer than WK. If Parker can exploit those edges against Joshua I think he has a very good chance of pulling off the upset and if he does win, it will be because of those aspects.

 

Parker's the most athletic opponent Joshua has ever faced but not the best. That accolade would still have to go to Wlad, who brought bucket loads of experience to the ring and wasn't so diminished that he wasn't a live threat. Parker has a ton of speed and explosiveness though, which Joshua hasn't seen before, and a very high paced style that could cause him problems if he can't get his measure, or fails to take control of the fight early on.

Parker is also crazy aggressive when he gets his man hurt, and Joshua can sometimes get sloppy or blow his gasket and leave himself vulnerable. There's definitely a potential for an upset here which wouldn't have been such a possibility with Joshua's other opponents.

 

Not only is he a step-up, he's a step too far.

The Kiwi colossus will go through the Pommie powderpuff like a chainsaw through a scarecrow.

 

Sandman - your exaggerations are priceless.

But yes - Parker does have a good chance here.

 

Hell no Parker isn't a step up. What the hell is wrong with you Kiwi boxing fans?

 

This. Parker actually has the better resume. Hughie Fury would box circles around Breazeale, Takam, or Martin as would Andy Ruiz. Wlad had experience and power, but was old and shot against both Tyson Fury and Joshua, but at least against Fury he was active and still the champion.

 

Parker by sleeping pill.

 

Hmmmmmmm.

 

Truth..

 

Garbage post 1 of the year ( I won't count yesterdays ) and I'll only keep it actual posts about boxing for a simpleton like you.

Parker presents more danger to Joshua than Klitchko who had actual size and footwork to keep Joshua at bay? Dope.

Parker is more nimble than Wlad yet takes the most punches out of the top HW's? Dope.

Parker isn't a one trick pony but can't get out of one pace which is a coasting non urgency one? Dope.

The only virus so far is you........

 

Ah I see you bypassed my previous post. Too much for you I see.

Don't worry you will see first-hand why Parker is more dangerous than a 40 year old,18 month inactive and mentally broken Wladimir when Joshua gets brutally stopped in March.

How old are you btw since it sounds as if you are still playing with toys?

"Virus" This isn't transformers you stupid sad little boy.

 

We don’t really know how good Parker is yet. Obviously if Parker wins then it would have been a step up from the version of Wlad he faced. Alternatively, AJ could obliterate Parker in a round, in which case the revisionist historians on this board will be quick to tell us that Parker was an over-rated bum.