Anthony Joshua has been accused of employing pre-fight dirty tactics against Joseph Parker reminiscent of the great Wladimir Klitschko.
Parker’s promoter, David Higgins, said AJ’s camp had tried to “unsettle” the 26-year-old New Zealander by intervening while he had his hands wrapped.
“Higgins just came to the press seats to say a Welsh supervisor acting at the behest of Joshua tried to get Parker’s hand wrap changed,” AFP reporter Julian Guyer said.
“Higgins then complained to Robert Smith, secretary of British Boxing Board of Control, and wraps stayed as they were.”
Speaking after the fight, Higgins claimed the rouse was “an attempt to unsettle us and disrupt our routine.”
The incident has echoes of mind games employed by Klitschko in the hours prior to the Ukrainian’s showdown against Joshua at Wembley Stadium last year.
Dr Steelhammer sent former world champion brother Vitali into the opposing dressing room to watch over AJ’s trainer Rob McCracken as he readied his man for battle.
Fans watching the broadcast at home picked up on the cheeky move, with one tweeting: “Excellent mind games for Wladdy to have Vitali go watch Joshua have his hands wrapped.”
On that night, the psychological jab failed to impact the result of the fight as Joshua triumphed in an epic 11-round battle.
And on Saturday night, the Watford man emerged victorious once again, this time needing the judge’s scorecards to relieve Joseph Parker of his WBO world title.
After just 21 professional bouts, Joshua now holds the IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO belts with just Deontay Wilder’s WBC strap standing between him and the undisputed heavyweight crown.
