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Anthony Joshua: Joseph Parker better 'all-round' fighter than Deontay Wilder

Anthony Joshua says he could slug out a win against Joseph Parker, but insists the pressure is in delivering a performance. Alex Livesey/Getty Images

SHEFFIELD -- Anthony Joshua considers Joseph Parker a better "all-round" fighter than his other rival world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

WBA-IBF champion Joshua faces WBO titleholder Parker at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on March 31, with WBC king Wilder waiting for the winner.

Joshua, 28, has knocked out all 20 professional opponents since winning gold at the 2012 Olympics and the Englishman is a huge betting favourite to beat New Zealand's Parker in the unification title clash.

There is already anticipation and speculation about a future fight between Joshua and Wilder, 32, who has stopped 39 of his 40 professional opponents and has made seven title defences.

But Joshua believes Parker (24-0, 18 KOs), 26, is potentially a harder opponent than American Wilder.

"There's never been one champion in the heavyweight division who relies solely on power, one punch, and Parker has a bit more all-round," Joshua told reporters before a training session at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

"Wilder knows how to box. Everyone talks about how the right hand is important. But I don't think that. When you talk about Parker you talk about his speed, his stamina, he's got a good chin. You talk about more stats and facts than just he has a right hand.

"He has more of an all-round game. That's what makes it a dangerous, dangerous fight. Left hook, right hand, likes the left hook to the body. I haven't seen Wilder throw many to the body. He likes that right hand."

For the third successive fight, Joshua will box in front of a huge stadium crowd.

After 90,000 saw AJ defeat former champion Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium almost a year ago, 78,000 were at the Principality Stadium on October 28 for his tenth round win over late substitute opponent Carlos Takam.

Despite the attention and expectation, Joshua says the only pressure he feels is that which he puts on himself.

"Pressure is more performance," Joshua told reporters. "I know I can slug out a win but it's about the performance to make your stock rise. Opinion is always good.

"If Parker loses he will come again and vice versa. Pressure is more on performance. If you perform then the outcome of that is a win and the outcome of that is opinions of your performance. There's always going to be pressure win or lose."