Joseph Parker brands Anthony Joshua 'disrespectful' as trash talk intensifies ahead of heavyweight clash

Parker claims that the British fighter had refused to speak to journalists from New Zealand earlier this week

Joseph Parker has accused Anthony Joshua of showing a lack of respect ahead of their fight in Cardiff next weekend.

Journalists from Parker's native New Zealand attended a media session put on by Joshua's camp in Sheffield earlier this week, and Parker claimed on Friday that the British fighter had refused to speak to them.

"It's a little disrespectful because they've travelled a long way to come and see him, and they respect him, as a fighter and what he's achieved. But it's a little disrespectful," Parker said at a press conference on Friday.

"We were in camp in Vegas; we had a lot of British media come over and we were very friendly. He should just be a bit more respectful in talking to everyone who was there. Hopefully in future he can make it better."

A clash between Joshua and WBC champ Deontay Wilder has long been on the 28-year-old's radar and Parker believes the prospect of a blockbuster unification fight down the line is affecting his focus in the run-up to fight night.

"They can do whatever they want - it won't change a thing. He's probably trying to get advice from Klitschko," Parker added on suggestions Joshua has been taking advice from Wladmir Klitschko ahead of the fight.

"We have [Joshua vs Klitschko] playing in the gym every day. There are things we saw that we can do better. We can catch AJ.

"The public are judging us on our last two or three fights and they see Joshua as a fighter who is [unbeatable]. There is the element of surprise. Everyone thinks this is an easy win for him, but that's motivation for us. I want to get in there and bash him.

"They are looking past our team. If they are in discussions [to fight Wilder], so be it. But he has to be careful because someone's in their way."

Parker has been working hard in camp and believes secret surgery on both of his elbows will help him present Joshua with a fresh challenge.

"In the past five or six fights I haven't shown the jab that I showed early in my career," he added. "The jab is key to set up our attack phases, and I have it back now. There will be a lot of jabs.

"We tried to schedule surgery many times but opportunities came up, so we pushed it back. The last two years we've been fighting less than 100 per cent. Since the surgery, there have been benefits. This has been the best camp we've had in a long time and that's why we're confident."