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Watch: 'The bigger and the better man won on the day' - Humble Joseph Parker keeping his chin up after title fight loss

April 1, 2018

The Kiwi fighter lost his WBO world title to Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision. (Source: Other)

Joseph Parker has remained humble in defeat after surrendering his WBO heavyweight world title to Anthony Joshua following a 12-round dogfight at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

The 26-year-old Aucklander became the first man to stretch Joshua, who moves to 21-0, the full distance but was defeated by unanimous decision this morning.

Two of the three judges scored it 118-110 in Joshua's favour with the third giving it to the London Olympic champion 119-109.

Parker said after the fight he had no regrets.

"The bigger and better man won on the day," he told a press conference. "We've just got to take it on the chin.

"Everything is learning, I could have done more but I didn't really throw the punches I wanted to throw."

Parker knew he needed a knockout in the final 30 seconds. Then the judges called it. (Source: Other)

"I thought they (the judges' margins) were a bit wide but that's the judges, that's their job. You can't complain."

Joshua, meanwhile, was full of praise for Parker.

"Forget the hype, Joseph Parker is a world champion. I knew he'd be determined," he said in the ring.

"Sometimes this does become a boxing match, not a fight, so I made sure this would be about boxing finesse."

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