Parker rejects sparring partner ahead Anthony Joshua bout

Joseph Parker will not use Tyson Fury as a sparring partner for his heavyweight unification showdown with Anthony Joshua, the WBO champion’s trainer Kevin Barry has confirmed.

After the unbeaten WBO titlist signed to meet Joshua in Cardiff on March 31, Fury offered to help him in his preparation for the Principality Stadium showdown.

Parker respectfully declined his offer, claiming Fury is not ‘the right person to spar’. And now Barry has confirmed that the former unified champion will not be involved in their camp when they return to the UK before fight night.

“Tyson put his hand up to help us in the last two weeks once we arrived,” Barry told Sky Sports.

“Really, two weeks out, we don’t need to be getting in there with a 6ft 9in Tyson Fury!

“Tyson’s a great friend of our team and we appreciate all the support he gives us, but that just doesn’t work out for us.”

Parker is currently training in Las Vegas ahead of the March 31 clash. The New Zealander, who is unbeaten in 24 professional fights, is the heavy underdog against Joshua, who holds the IBF, WBA and lesser-recognised IBO belts.

Fury, meanwhile, is back in the gym, training ahead of proposed comeback after more than two years out of the ring.