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Joseph Parker has eaten a big slice of humble pie after he dubbed heavyweight rival Anthony Joshua the “king of steroids.”
Joshua and Parker are set for a Match 31st showdown at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, the first time in history that two reigning heavyweight world champions have met in Britain.
Joshua, 28, holds the IBF, IBO and WBA belts, while New Zealander Parker is the WBO champion.
Parker accused “AJ” of using steroids in an interview with a New Zealand radio station following confirmation of the fight on Sunday.
However, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live on Tuesday, Parker admitted that:
“Silly throwaway lines that don’t mean anything”.
“I don’t see him as a drugs cheat.”
At the press conference between the pair, Parker added:
“It’s an exciting time to be a heavyweight.”
”I’ve watched [Joshua] for a long time. I know his strengths, he knows mine. I know his weaknesses and he thinks he knows my weaknesses.”
”Hopefully I will catch him on the chin and knock him out.”
Last Saturday Joshua appeared on the Graham Norton Show dubbing Parker the “king of pies”.
Boys will be boys, I guess - but this unification bout is simmering nicely.