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Anthony Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn have been branded “cowards” by WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder .
It had been hoped that Joshua, who holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, and Wilder would be able to arrange a unification title fight before the end of the year, with the winner being the first man to hold all four world heavyweight belts.
However, those plans have been scuppered with the WBA ordering Joshua to agree a fight with their mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin , or be risk being stripped of the title.
Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-roundShow all 13 1 /13Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 1 Cagey. Very cagey. Joshua probably just edged that one. He held the centre of the ring very well but there was not too much to note about that round really. Concentration all over Joshua's face. LB: Joshua 10-9 Parker JA: Joshua 10-9 Parker JDM: Joshua 10-9 Parker
Reuters
Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 2 Another really close round. Both men went for a few more shots. Joshua got a couple through the gate and Parker was going for a few body shots. Still very cagey. LB: Joshua 10-9 Parker JA: Joshua 10-9 Parker JDM: Joshua 10-9 Parker
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 3 The crowd has quietened slightly this round as they look to be given something to cheer about. Joshua twice obliges with shots at Parker up against the ropes. There is an accidental head clash that throws the Briton slightly towards the end of the round that the referee warns both about but Joshua is still on top. Just. LB: Joshua 10-9 Parker JA: Joshua 10-9 Parker JDM: Joshua 10-9 Parker
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 4 A big left jab from Joshua looked like it hurt Parker briefly there as Joshua holds the centre of the ring and pushed his rival into the ropes. Joshua catches him again with another left hook and a third to finish the round. He's eased into this one but looks comfortable. There is swelling around Parker's left eye now too. LB: Joshua 10-9 Parker JA: Joshua 10-9 Parker JDM: Joshua 10-9 Parker
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 5 Parker is been hurt by yet another left at the start of this round. He's trying to lure Joshua in and attack but he finally finds success with it. A flurry of punches hurries Joshua into the corner and another shot is landed. LB: Joshua 10-9 Parker JA: Joshua 9-10 Parker JDM: Joshua 9-10 Parker
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 6 Both men go at it here and swing wildly! They take shots and both land them. The referee breaks it up and the crowd come alive! Parker lands a couple more and he looks dangerous. Joshua needs to stem this momentum from the Kiwi. LB: Joshua 10-9 Parker JA: Joshua 9-10 Parker JDM: Joshua 9-10 Parker
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 7 A left jab catches Joshua and Parker is a tad stunned. The two lock up and Parker snatches a few body shots which Joshua takes exception to and aims a wild uppercut his way after the referee calls the break. Parker gives AJ a wry smile as the bell rings. LB: Joshua 10-9 Parker JA: Joshua 10-9 Parker JDM: Joshua 10-9 Parker
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 8 Parker continues to go in low and the referee doesn't like it, but Parker won't like what's coming next as Joshua lands a big left and wraps the Kiwi up against the ropes as he ducks into him. He can't quiet capitalise but he is back on top as the bell brings the round to an end. LB: Joshua 10-9 Parker JA: Joshua 10-9 Parker JDM: Joshua 10-9 Parker
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 9 Joshua predicted Parker would tire in the ninth or 10th and he could be right. He lands a few shots before complaining about Parker's head use. There is a brief pause as Joshua gets his gloves re-taped after it comes loose and Parker gets a bit lively after, but the bell calls an end to the round just as it starts to spice up. LB: Joshua 9-10 Parker JA: Joshua 9-10 Parker JDM: Joshua 9-10 Parker
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 10 Parker's been cut above his left eye and Joshua, like a shark, goes straight to work on it. The crowd sense it too but Parker sees it off for now. Joshua has him up against the ropes and swings with a wild left that would have surely ended it there and then. Parker survives. LB: Joshua 10-9 Parker JA: Joshua 10-9 Parker JDM: Joshua 10-9 Parker
Reuters
Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 11 Only a knockout will do for Parker so expect him to really go for it. But he doesn't really and Joshua keeps him at distance. Parker keeps coming but the two get wrapped up and Joshua lands an uppercut and another jab. A left seems to wobble Parker but a body shot by the Kiwi immediately hurts AJ. A good finish to the round. LB: Joshua 10-9 Parker JA: Joshua 10-9 Parker JDM: Joshua 10-9 Parker
Reuters
Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 12 Only a knockout will do for Parker. Joshua just needs to survive, keep his distance. A body shot from Joshua wakes up the crowd and another jab draws more cheers but there is nothing more to capitalise on. That’s it, some boos from the crowd as Joshua is taken the distance for the first time in his career. LB: Joshua 10-9 Parker JA: Joshua 10-9 Parker JDM: Joshua 10-9 Parker
Reuters
Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round It’s a convincing victory for Joshua from all three of our judges, with Luke Brown only giving Parker one round and both Jack Austin and Jack de Menezes handing the New Zealand three. It wasn’t Joshua’s most entertaining fight of his career, or his most dominant, but as wins go that one was pretty regulatory. LB: Joshua 119-109 JA: 117-111 JDM: 117-111
Reuters
That means that any fight with Wilder will have to wait, something the American is less than impressed with.
In an expletive-laden tweet, Wilder said: “I knew I smelt p***** but damn Anthony Joshua I didn’t know the odor was that strong you coward ass b****. Had the world waiting for 3 months playing games just for this moment.
“You’re not a true champion!! You’re just a weak minded coward that’s holding hard metal. #Facts.”
He added: “All they had to do is say they were scared to fight. Period. But instead they made themselves look like what they are, not stand up guys.
“I'm so happy it's over now I've done my part the world seen that so stay in England.”
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