Heavyweight World Champion Anthony Joshua has rejected charges of doping by his upcoming opponent, Joseph Parker. He had called him the “king of steroids”. Joshua also made comparisons with Vladimir Klitschko.
Prior to the unification fight against the American IBF champion Joshua, his New Zealand opponent, WBO champion Parker, described him as the “King of Steroids”. And Parker added,”I’m not accusing him of steroid use, but I’m saying it’s possible.”
Joshua then refrained from a verbal counterattack, referring to numerous doping tests he had already undergone:”I always have to sign up three months in advance, and I have to give examiners two windows a day knowing that they can definitely meet me to test me for doping,”Joshua said at a press conference on Tuesday.
At the same time Joshua remembered Vladimir Klitschko:”That’s what happened to Klitschko many times. When I watched him, they seldom showed him respect because of his fighting style and performance. And they said various things about him.”
For Joshua this was completely incomprehensible, because “I think he was just a phenomenal fighter”. Referring to himself, he affirmed:”I will not take that too much to heart. I’ll just take things as they come. People are talking. But when I’m at home with my family, it’s all irrelevant.”
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn also affirmed that Joshua is regularly tested. And he also tried to defuse the situation:”I think Parker regrets his words. He apologized on his Facebook page.”