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With Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn admittedly looking into the future for the heavyweight titleholder — which is his job, after all — fellow titlist Joseph Parker says he’s not really taking the bait and thinking the fighter himself is looking past their March 31 clash.
Parker (24-0, 18 KO) does say that Joshua (20-0, 20 KO) is “in for a surprise” if he does look too far head:
“Despite the stories in the media of them setting up fights and looking up future opponents, I think they are taking this seriously.
”They see this as a great fight that can go either way. I am the underdog. People think that he will blast me out in a few rounds, but I think it will be a lot better fight than people think it will be. ... My focus is myself and my training. If they are looking past me, they will be in for a surprise.”
Parker is probably right that Joshua himself is not looking past him, and preparing for the best possible Anthony Joshua is obviously the way to go.
But we know Hearn is at least partially thinking about Joshua’s likely U.S. debut this summer. Do you think there’s a chance Joshua is doing the same, having been so successful thus far, trampling through most of his opposition?