The British heavyweight star added the WBO belt to his IBF and WBA ‘super’ titles as he produced a disciplined display against the rugged Parker to earn a wide unanimous decision with scores of 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109 at the Principality Stadium.

Joshua’s perfect run of 20 knockouts was ended by Parker, who retained his reputation for toughness, but AJ moved one belt away from becoming the undisputed champion.

Parker was escorted by Samoan chiefs as he arrived for the biggest battle of a 24-fight career, followed by the home favourite Joshua, whose white robe was lit up by pyrotechnics while he strolled confidently towards his 21st opponent.

The hand speed of Parker was on show in the opening round as he pushed out probing jabs at Joshua, who edged forward menacingly on the front foot.

Joshua began to measure Parker with his own ramrod jab in the second, while the Kiwi was muscled to the ropes by a crunching combination in the third.

Forced onto his heels, Parker was kept at arm’s length by that thudding jab in the fourth, but he ripped a right hand through Joshua’s guard in the fifth and smiled after the bell.

Parker charged out for the sixth, chasing Joshua to the ropes, and both traded big punches as a tense duel turned into a brutal encounter.

Crunching body shots from Parker slowed Joshua’s stride in the seventh, although Joshua sparked to life in the eighth to land a searing left hand.

Parker’s raiding attacks continued to unsettle AJ, who was forced to hold in the ninth, but Joshua’s spiteful work opened a cut over his foe’s eye in the 10th.

Both men traded hooks in the 11th as Parker’s renowned chin held firm and Joshua resisted the urge to pursue a last-round knockout, controlling the last three minutes with his spearing jab to seal victory.

–

Source: BBC

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Joshua, 28, holds the IBF and WBA belts, while New Zealander Parker is the WBO champion.

Cardiff’s Principality stadium – where Joshua successfully defended his titles against Carlos Takam in October – will host the bout.

“I’m delighted to get this fight made – it’s been a long time coming,” said Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn.

“It’s the first time in history that two reigning heavyweight world champions have met in Britain.”

Joshua added: “These fights aren’t easy because there is a lot on the line – so respect to team Parker for taking the challenge.

“I’m looking forward to it. Training camp is under way and before you know, 31 March will be upon us.”

Parker’s representative David Higgins arrived in the UK last week to finalise a deal. Talks had previously stalled over how the purse would be split but a compromise was reached last month which will see Parker, 25, earn 30-35%.

Parker is undefeated in his 24 professional fights, with 18 of those wins coming by a knockout.

“Anthony Joshua is in for a huge shock,” Parker said. “A couple of months ago I heard him say: ‘Why should I be worried about this little kid from New Zealand?’

“Well, now he’s about to find out. And the world is about to find out whether AJ can really take a punch.”

Joshua became IBF heavyweight champion by defeating Charles Martin at London’s O2 Arena in April 2016.

The following April, he added the WBA belt by beating Wladimir Klitschkoin front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.

Whoever wins in March is certain to then face undefeated American Deontay Wilder, who holds the fourth belt in the heavyweight division. No boxer has held all four heavyweight belts simultaneously.

Parker’s camp have been pushing for the fight ever since Joshua defeated Takam last year.

They staged a news conference in November featuring clips of Joshua being knocked down in his amateur days and offered £20,000 to anyone with footage of him being floored.

That prompted Joshua to hit back, saying he was being “demonised” by the Parker camp. But Higgins later told BBC Sport Joshua was “rattled”.

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Source: BBC

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Wilder knocked Stiverne to the canvas with a fierce right before flooring him again with a barrage of punches.

Stiverne was then knocked out as Wilder caught him with some brutal punches, including a left-right combination.

“I know I am the best. Are you up for the test?,” asked Wilder of WBA and IBF heavyweight champion Joshua.

“I’ve been waiting on that fight for a long time now.

“I declare war upon you. Do you accept my challenge?”

American Wilder appeared to dismiss the prospect of fighting Britain’s Dillian Whyte, who last weekend won an eliminator to put himself in a prime position to compete for a world title by claiming the vacant WBC silver heavyweight crown.

Whyte has racked up six successive victories since losing to Anthony Joshua in December 2015, and after Wilder’s win wrote on Twitter: “Well done @BronzeBomber but let’s do this work Feb 3 at the O2. I ain’t never scared, fact. Will fight anyone anytime.”

However, Wilder said: “They are trying to give me a peasant in Whyte. A king doesn’t chase the peasants. A king takes kings. I want Joshua. If he doesn’t give me the fight we have other plans,” added Wilder.

“The world wants Joshua, the world wants Wilder, I want Joshua. Joshua come and see me baby. No more dodging, no more excuses. Make the date, don’t wait. Let’s see who is the best.”

Wilder was taken the full distance for the only time in his career when he beat Stiverne on points to claim the WBC belt in January 2015.

This time around he finished the fight with seconds left in the opening round as he took his undefeated record to 39, 38 by way of knockout.

–

Source: BBC

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The Briton, 28, damaged his nose after a heavy head collision early on and did not have things all his own way against a fighter who took the bout at 12 days’ notice.

But in a key fourth round in which both men enjoyed success, Joshua dropped his man with a hook and badly damaged the eye of his rival.

Takam was twice inspected by ringside medics but battled on until he was overwhelmed in the 10th when referee Phil Edwards stepped in to end the contest, much to the challenger’s frustration.

Takam, 36, was under pressure but not out on his feet and some inside the Cardiff venue booed the stoppage.

A tricky test negotiated

Cardiff’s fans may have wanted a more clinical ending having waited 10 years for boxing’s return to this passionate venue but Joshua had come through a tricky test.

Things started badly when his walk-on music failed to play and the boisterous crowd howled as replays of the second-round head collision played in the stadium.

But the fourth round was pivotal in giving the masses the British win they came for. After two early Takam right hands Joshua retaliated and floored the Cameroon-born fighter, who returned to his stool badly cut above his right eye.

Referee Edwards scrutinised work on the injury in the corner and medics interrupted the fifth and ninth rounds to assess the issue further.

The challenger deserves immense credit despite a fourth defeat in 40 fights. After settling in, the shorter and lighter man took risks to adopt his style of fighting up close and when he briefly backed the champion up in the seventh round, groans of concerns tumbled down the tiers to ringside.

–

Source: BBC

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Joshua, who stopped the Ukrainian in the 11th round at Wembley, immediately called out fellow Briton Fury, who beat Klitschko on points in November 2015.

“Fury, where you at, baby?” he asked. “I know he’s been talking, I want to give 90,000 a chance to see us.”

Fury, who has not fought since beating Klitschko, replied: “Let’s dance.”

Joshua is now unbeaten in 19 fights, with all his victories coming inside the distance. The 27-year-old’s win in front of a post-war British record 90,000 fans at the national stadium added the WBA belt to his IBF strap.

Fury, 28, is also unbeaten as a professional, with 18 knockouts in 25 fights, but surrendered his world heavyweight titles in an effort to focus on his mental health problems and is currently without a boxing licence and out of condition.

However, he remains active on social media and indicated he wants to return, judging by his reply on Twitter to Joshua’s calls from the ring.

“Challenge accepted,” Fury wrote. “We will give the world the biggest fight in 500 years. I will play with you. You are a boxer’s dream.

“Well done Anthony Joshua. Good fight. You had life and death with Klitschko and I played with the guy. Let’s dance.”

Meanwhile, American Deontay Wilder, who holds the WBC title, wants a unification fight against Joshua, should he take the WBO belt off New Zealand’s Joseph Parker.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek programme on Sunday morning, Wilder said: “My plans are to get the WBO belt and once I get that, if I’m given a mandatory challenger, get that out of the way and set up a mega fight early in 2018.

“I’d be prepared to go anywhere. I don’t fear anybody and I’m not scared to go to anybody’s house. England is like a second home to me.

“But I must obtain that belt first so I can bring it to the table for a unification fight.”

–

Source: BBC

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The squad will be based at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence, Prampram from Tuesday, 29th July 2014, before flying to Namibia for the tournament.

The Black Queens, were paired with three- time runners-up, South Africa, Cameroon and Algeria in Group B in the draw, which took place in Windhoek, Namibia on Saturday.

Group A consists of six-time winners, Nigeria, debutants Zambia, the Ivory Coast and the hosts Namibia.

The tournament is scheduled for 11-25 October 2014 and will also serve as the qualifiers for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Black Queens Squad:

Nana Ama Asantewaa, Fafali Dumehasi, Mary Berko, Faiza Ibrahim, Mary Baidoo (Police) Diana Ankomah, Patricia Mantey, Rosemary Ampem, Leticia Zikpi (Immigration) Agnes Quaye, Portia Boakye (Fabulous Ladies) Janet Egyir, Agnes Aduako, Samira Suleman, Linda Eshun, Elizabeth Cudjoe (Hasaacas Ladies) Juliet Acheampong (Ashtown Ladies) Cynthia Adobea, Mercy Myles, Grace Asare (Reformers Ladies) Hillia kobblah (Ghana Air Force) Margaret Otoo (Lady Strikers) Nancy Coleman, Mary Essiful (Intellectuals) Elizabeth Addo (Nigeria-based)

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The draw, which took place in Windhoek, Namibia on Saturday, also pitted six-time winners, Nigeria, against the hosts Namibia, debutants Zambia and the Ivory Coast.

The tournament is scheduled for 11-25 October 2014 and will also serve as the qualifiers for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

The Black Queens , who failed to make it out of their group in 2008 and 2010 and missed out on tournament altogether last time out in 2012, will hope to improve on their three previous second-place finishes in the tournament.

They face a tough task in getting past 3-time runners-up South Africa, who were thrashed by Equatorial Guinea in the final of the last edition and Cameroon, who have not missed a tournament since 1998.

They group’s final team, Algeria, are considered clear underdogs, having not made it out of the group in their last three appearances.

GROUP A

Namibia, Zambia, Nigeria, Ivory Coast

GROUP B

South Africa, Cameroon, Algeria, Ghana

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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