Wednesday 21 March 2018 15:15, UK
Anthony Joshua has warned that he is taking Joseph Parker "deadly serious", despite talk of fighting Deontay Wilder.
The trio of unbeaten heavyweights each hold versions of the world title - Joshua and Parker will unify their WBA, IBF and WBO gold on March 31 live on Sky Sports Box Office.
"People are talking about Wilder. I'm not. That's not my focus," Joshua told Sky Sports.
People should never overlook Joseph Parker - he's a world champion, undefeated, and he has that Kiwi blood. That's a triple threat.
"People should never overlook Joseph Parker - he's a world champion, undefeated, and he has that Kiwi blood. That's a triple threat.
"Parker - just know I'm not overlooking you, I'm taking this deadly serious, and I'm focused on the task ahead. I'm a serious competitor."
Joshua's ambition of becoming the undisputed world heavyweight champion by also winning Wilder's WBC belt could yet be scuppered by Parker, the WBO champion, who harbours the same goal.
"I'm young, fast, strong, my movement is good, I have a great team behind me, and I have my two nations behind me," said New Zealand's Parker, who has Samoan heritage, upon his arrival to the UK last weekend.
Parker was also quick to dismiss the notion of fighting Wilder in the future, and cooled talk that he may be accompanied to the ring in Cardiff by Tyson Fury, who has not fought in two-and-a-half years since winning the world heavyweight title.
"No, we haven't planned anything yet," Parker said. "All our eyes are focused on Anthony Joshua; all these other heavyweights can talk to us after this fight."
Joshua has refused to confirm his promoter Eddie Hearn's claims that he will weigh-in significantly lighter to face Parker.
"I'm not going to say because, last time I said that, I came in at my career-heaviest," said Joshua, who was 18st 2lbs against Carlos Takam.
"I'm not going to jinx it. Whether I'm bigger than I was for Takam, or lighter than I was for Dominic Breazeale, I will make sure I am victorious."
Meanwhile, Dillian Whyte, who fights Lucas Browne on Saturday live on Sky Sports, has set out to ruin his rival Joshua's plan of winning the four major belts.
Already ranked at No1 by the WBC, a victory over Browne edges Whyte closer to challenging Wilder. Whyte said: "[Wilder] underestimates me.
"He says he can beat me with one hand behind his back. I know he's talking rubbish.
"Of course he's going to be watching me."
