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Home » Exclusive: WBO champion Joseph Parker leaning towards Anthony Joshua over Wladimir Klitschko

Exclusive: WBO champion Joseph Parker leaning towards Anthony Joshua over Wladimir Klitschko

Joshua defends his IBF title, whilst Klitschko brings the vacant IBO and WBA belts into the ring as the mandatory contender in one of the most eagerly-anticipated top division clashes of recent times.

Wembley Stadium will host the contest as 90,000 fans watch the crowning of a new king at 200 pounds plus, and when pushed for his view on the eventual victor, Parker leaned towards the younger, fresher Briton.

“For me, it’s a hard one to call. You have Klitschko, on the one hand, who’s dominated for a long time and then you have Joshua who’s very hungry to keep his championship belt and prove to everyone that he’s the man,” Parker exclusively told World Boxing News.

“It’s a fight where it’s 50-50 and that’s why it’s so interesting an everybody wants to see it.

“Klitschko hasn’t been in this position for a long time. He dominated and hasn’t been the underdog for ten years. He hasn’t had this kind of drive for some time, so we can see why it would be seen as 50-50 but some may lean towards Klitschko.

“Myself, I’m leaning more towards Joshua but you never know. This is boxing and anything can happen.”

On the possibility of a four-title clash involving himself versus the winner in the future, Parker added: “We can set up a big fight after. If they do their business and we do what we are supposed to do (on May 6) then we can hopefully make a big fight in the future.

“It’s a fight everyone would be looking forward to,” said the New Zealander.

Parker battles late replacement Razvan Cojanu on May 6 in the first defense of his newly-acquired championship following the withdrawal of Hughie Fury due to a back injury.

Should Parker come through the Romanian, a battle with Joshua or Klitschko could take precedence over a mandatory bout, leaving Fury facing a longer wait to claim his own world title opportunity.

Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay