Wednesday 28 March 2018 14:58, UK
Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker will finally share the ring this weekend, nearly seven years after their paths first crossed at an amateur tournament in Azerbaijan.
There was just a brief show of respect, a swift handshake as Parker strolled towards Joshua at the 2011 World Championships, and their boxing careers would take different directions until this Saturday's unification clash in Cardiff, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
"I remember walking past Joshua and going good luck, and shaking his hand when before his fight, I think it was the semi-finals. That's what I remember," said Parker, who already held the British boxer in high regard.
"He was sort of new at the sport. I did my research on him, and I felt he was just a solid guy. A lot of potential and had a great team, and he was eager to win."
Parker had endured an early exit at the tournament, suffering a second-round points defeat to China's Zhang Zhilei, and was a frustrated spectator as Joshua advanced to the final.
Joshua had only joined Team GB a year earlier, but demonstrated his huge potential by defeating Roberto Cammarelle in the quarter-finals, a seasoned Italian who would meet AJ again in the medal stages of a tournament.
There would be no gold on this occasion for Joshua, who settled for silver after losing a decision to Azerbaijan's Magomedrasul Majidov in the final, although Parker was the more frustrated fighter on the flight home.
I didn't have proper guidance, or proper nutrition.
"I guess the preparation wasn't the best," said the New Zealander. "I didn't have the best team around me. I didn't have proper guidance, or proper nutrition. Burger King was sort of top of the menu at the time."
Joshua was also well aware of Parker, having watched a bruising encounter with fellow British amateur Frazer Clarke at a 2010 Commonwealth Federation competition in Delhi.
Parker's hard-fought points victory would be studied by Joshua as he tried to learn more about his new amateur rivals.
"I see him as a warrior. He's from a warrior nation," said Joshua. "Fraser boxed him as an amateur. He was in the amateur system above me when I first started, and I watched him."
I see him as a warrior. He's from a warrior nation.
Speed and power were two obvious attributes in the young Kiwi, whose mental toughness was also on show against Clarke.
"It was a proper close fight," said Clarke. "We were both young and inexperienced - he's definitely got a big heart. Joseph wasn't technically the best, but was game and was tough.
"He was mature above his years - that's what won the fight for him.
"The same characteristics that he carries into the ring now, I saw back then. He comes forward, lots of combinations, good speed, physically strong. He took some heavy shots - he can definitely hold a punch. But it's one thing to take a shot from me, and another to take a shot from Joshua!"
There would not be an opportunity for Joshua to pit his improving skills against Parker at the London 2012 Games, with the Kiwi turning professional after failing to qualify, while the home favourite edged out Cammarelle to become Olympic champion.
"I beat five or six guys who went to the Olympics, and I didn't qualify, so I thought I might as well turn professional," said Parker. "Then I had a great team that approached me and said they could help me along the journey, and that's where it all began as a professional.
Despite his personal disappointment, Parker still watched the Games, hinting that Joshua was fortunate to emerge with the gold.
"There was a lot of decisions in the whole tournament that I didn't really feel was the right decision," he said.
"I was impressed yes, and for him [Joshua] it was life-changing. Once he won, he became a big star. Then he moved onto the professional ranks and became a bigger star."
Joshua followed Parker into the professional ranks, but would lead the way to a world title, taking the IBF heavyweight belt from Charles Martin in only his 16th fight, in April 2016.
The two men would soon hold three world crowns between them, with Parker picking up the vacant WBO title after a points win over Andy Ruiz Jr in December of that year, while Joshua added the WBA 'super' strap with a dramatic win over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley the following April.
They finally share the ring this Saturday night, in front of an expectant crowd at the Principality Stadium, and Parker has eagerly awaited this elusive encounter.
"Our paths have been real different," said Parker. "He went to the Olympics and I missed out. My team has guided me into this right path and I feel like our paths will cross, and I will show him what I'm made of."
