What Parker needs to do to win on March 31st.

If he goes for plan B it' essential he works the body and sets a pace.

 

Forgetting he has to handle punches coming back. This ain’t no Hughie Fury his fighting.

 

I don't think 8 or 9 lbs lighter will make much difference at heavy for a 255lb guy like AJ....Somehow Parker needs to make AJ work hard for 5 or 6 rounds,without getting hit flush himself..If he can he has a chance down the stretch.

 

I think, by far, the most important thing for Parker is to tighten up his defense. Significantly. He cannot get hit as often as other opponents have been hitting him in recent fights. Hold those hands up the whole fight .Especially that left hand. And if he throws a left hook, bring that left back quick and up high. Roll with punches would help a bunch if he gets in the position of being able to read Joshua.

He also has to be very very leery of the Joshua right uppercut. He hasn't faced a guy with a major league uppercut and eating Joshua's is not a path to victory. Very dangerous punch and not one to walk into.

 

What Parker needs to do to win on March 31st.

Don't be a target. If Joshua starts to tee off on him its over. Not necessarily a KO but the ref will stop it.

 

Zadfrak - I agree.

The uppercut from Joshua is dangerous. Mind you, Parker has taken guys out with it too.

 

Let's be honest. What's the chance of Parker getting a decision? If he is serious about winning he has to take Joshua into deep water stamina-wise. Why do you think AJ is losing weight? Because he knows that he can win by seeing the final bell like other "champions" around at the moment.

Parker has to sustain a high work rate with the goal of a late round accumulation stoppage. He needs to take some risks but not silly ones that could see Parker getting seriously hurt. If that happens, it's doubtful he will come back and stop AJ.

A definite yes to working the body where the openings present themselves. Testing AJ's chin and power early and Parker may think he has a chance trading for a stoppage. I rate Parker's chin above Joshua's and this may decide the fight.

Hoping for a Parker win but it will be against the odds. The investment in Joshua is huge.

 

Hearn can bear this loss.

The rematch clause makes for an even bigger payday next time...

 

He actually has been improving in that regard, he made Hughie miss a lot.

 

Use feints. Wlad had a lot of success using feints as Joshua likes to catch and counter, the feint can make Joshua more tentative as he tries to guess if Parker is feinting or punching. This will eventually allow Parker to unload as Joshua will become hesitant to counter. Feints will also make Joshua back up at times allowing Parker to pin Joshua on the ropes without have to rush in and eat a counter.

He needs to keep moving whether it's forward or backwards he can't be a stationary target for Joshua. Joshua is at his most effective when he has a stationary target he can unload on in combination. Preferably using lateral movement and keeping the fight in the centre of the ring.

Make his speed advantage count he has to get off first to land as he doesn't counter punch anymore and when he does let his hands go he can't stand there and admire his work like he usually does, he has to move or slip the inevitable counter punch that will be coming back at him.

Work the body and out work Joshua. Stamina is Joshua's biggest weakness. Setting a pace higher than Joshua likes and hitting the body will expose this weakness.

 

I suspect we'll see that, I know we have to take the pad work and shadow sparring with a grain of salt but what I feel like I've seen more hints of on what they've shown is him throwing feints as well as Barry throwing shots (quite fast ones, too) back at Parker during the routines.

Parker has also been doing a lot more touching in his training and shown a bit more hint of it in his recent fights, which may or may not be a key against AJ - point scoring, making AJ react and try and counter something which isn't loaded and not using his own fuel. At least in the earlier rounds just doing work which catches eyes, makes AJ work but not burning too much fuel while also setting up for the possibility of combos which come at speeds AJ is just not used to.

Banking on the movement and speed to not let AJ settle into the fight, and hopefully survive and have enough energy in the later rounds to start planting the feet and putting some more leverage into the combos later when AJ is fading and feeling like he's worked out what is coming

 

Absolutely, Lith.

Good game plan....

 

Take it to femi and blast him out.

 

Hmmmm.

 

Many here think Parker has no chance.....