Joshua vs Parker: Is Anthony Joshua taunting Tyson Fury?
Monday 26 March 2018 16:50, UK
Anthony Joshua has said "one fight doesn’t define us" in an apparent dig at absent rival Tyson Fury.
Joshua meets Joseph Parker on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Box Office, in a bid to unify the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles - the same hat-trick that Fury achieved in late 2015.
But Fury has not fought in two-and-a-half years since ending Wladimir Klitschko's long reign, during which time Joshua has won five world title fights.
One fight doesn't define us - if it did, I would be sitting back on the throne after my Klitschko fight.
"One fight doesn't define us - if it did, I would be sitting back on the throne after my Klitschko fight," Joshua told Sky Sports.
"But I've got to keep on going. And if you take a hiccup in your career, that shouldn't define you either.
"From my 16th fight when I challenged for the world title, every fight has been a championship fight and something to remember. This fight [against Parker] is very significant - it is history."
Fury is nearing a comeback with a new trainer, Ben Davison, having shed significant weight that was gained during his hiatus.
"I opened the division up for all these heavyweights to have world titles," Fury told Sky Sports News earlier this month.
"Joshua has been doing a good job of polishing my belts, keeping them nice and warm.
"[Trainer] Brendan Ingle once said, it's easy to beat Tyson Fury, very, very easy. Nail him to the canvas, because if you can't do that I'm going to eat you up, eat you all up. Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua, whoever else, I'm coming for you."
Fury, who is unbeaten in 25 fights, remains without a promoter. He has been offered a route towards Joshua by Eddie Hearn.
"If he comes with us, there's a very straightforward road into a lot of heavyweight fights. Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte, Tony Bellew," Hearn told Sky Sports.
"Ultimately the grand prize of Joshua because that is a huge fight."
