Anthony Joshua has warned Joseph Parker that no man will stop him fulfilling his dream of becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
The two fighters came face-to-face for the first time on Tuesday as they kicked off the promotional tour for the March 31 showdown.
Before the fight was announced Parker’s team sought to highlight perceived weaknesses in AJ’s armour by pointing out that he has been dropped during both his amateur and professional career.
Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker came face-to-face on Tuesday ahead of their March fight
The WBA and IBF titlist said no man can stop him becoming the undisputed heavyweight king
The two fighters face off following the first-pre fight press conference ahead of their clash
During his unpaid days, Joshua was floored by compatriot David Price in training. AJ revealed on Tuesday that he headed to that session having ‘come out of a police cell’. Last April, too, Joshua had to climb off the canvas on the way to beating Wladimir Klitschko.
‘All those times taught me it will take more than a human to stop me going where I’m destined to be,’ he told Team Parker.
‘What I have learned from those times of adversity and going through storms is that it will take more than any human to stop me on this journey.’
He added: ‘It’s about making history now, we have always been moving in that direction so it’s an honour to be up here with another world champion. But in terms of Parker, I don’t really know how to take his camp. In terms of what’s been said but I take everything with a pinch of salt and roll with the punches.
The two unbeaten heavyweights will collide for the WBO, IBF and WBA titles at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Joshua has promised ‘fireworks’ and reminded the WBO champion: ‘This isn’t a three round fight based on skills, it’s a 12 round fight based on heart.’
The New Zealand fighter claimed it was his ‘destiny’ to emerge victorious against Joshua
Parker arrived in London last week ahead of the pre-fight press conference on Tuesday
Joshua promised ‘fireworks’ when he clashes with another unbeaten heavyweight champion
Parker responded by claiming it was his ‘destiny’ to be in big fights such as these.
‘I have a big challenge in front of me in Joshua’ he said. ‘I know his strengths, he knows mine, I know his weaknesses, he thinks he knows my weaknesses, I can’t wait for this fight to happen on March 31, I can’t wait to train hard, to be back to put on a great performance, hopefully catch him on the chin and knock him out.’
Parker’s trainer Kevin Barry did admit, however, that his fighter would need to produce the ‘greatest performance’ of his career to emerge victorious.
‘If Joseph doesn’t bring his A game it’s going to be a very difficult night,’ he said. ‘I need him to throw a lot more punches than in last few fights.’
Parker has vowed to train harder than ever for the Cardiff showdown but Joshua said his mental superiority will prove crucial.
Joshua extended his perfect professional record with victory over Carlos Takam in October
The WBO world champion poses for exclusive photographs with Sportsmail’s KEVIN QUIGLEY
‘As he said hee’s going to be training extremely hard,’ AJ said. ‘We’re all blessed with the ability to work hard. But one thing that I think separates myself is that I mix intelligence with hard work. So not only am I going to be in peak physical condition, I’m making sure my mind is in the right place at all times.’
Both Joshua and Parker are bidding to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis.
Whoever emerges victorious in Cardiff will hold three of the four major belts, with America’s Deontay Wilder the other reigning champion.
The Bronze Bomber faces Luis Ortiz on March 3, with the winner being lined up to fight for all four titles later in 2018.