British boxing champ: Confident Parker is a "totally different person"

Joseph Parker - acting like a champ says British star. Photo / Photosport

A British world boxing champion has described Joseph Parker as a "totally different person" and believes he has the goods to defeat Anthony Joshua in Sunday's massive heavyweight unification bout.

Johnny Nelson, a Sky pundit who was a longtime world cruiserweight champion, said on initially meeting Parker the Kiwi seemed to lack confidence.

Nelson writes: "Now, listening to him, and just looking at him, he looks very confident. That impressed me, because he looked like a totally different person.

"Some of Anthony Joshua's previous opponents had tasted defeat before, but Joseph Parker has confidence in his chin, his resume says it all.

"As the weeks have gone by, I think Parker has grown in confidence. Now, when I look at him, I don't sense any doubt in him. He's an unbeaten young fighter, so he doesn't know how else to act. I think we have got a real fight on our hands.

"I think he was calm at the press conference, I don't think he was nervous. People saying that are talking rubbish. He conducted himself like a champion."

Parker has talked up his relaxed preparation for the fight in Cardiff, while highlighting what he perceives as Joshua's angry mood.