The trainer of New Zealand's world boxing champion Joseph Parker believes Anthony Joshua knows he is for a true test.
Kevin Barry listens during the press conference to announce his fighter Joseph Parker's bout with Anthony Joshua. Photo: Photosport
WBO belt holder Parker and English star Joshua, who owns the WBA and IBF crowns, square off in Cardiff on Sunday in a world heavyweight title unification bout.
The hulking British fighter has been labelled a strong favourite since discussion about a potential fight with the Kiwi-Samoan champion resurfaced in October last year.
That line of thinking has only continued since the bout was officially confirmed in January, with few of Joshua's adoring British fans in particular giving Parker much chance of pulling off an upset.
But, according to Parker's trainer Kevin Barry, Joshua's words and actions this week told Team Parker plenty.
"I've always thought this was a very, very competitive fight," Barry told RNZ.
"I'm starting to believe now that Joshua is starting to realise this himself.
"[He knows] that he's in very deep, he's in with someone who's not afraid of him, someone whose skill level is every bit as good as him and somebody who is also undefeated and prepared to put it all on the line."
If true, they are assertions which will only have ramped up the pressure on the superstar from northwest London.
While he has proven his ability to deal with that, particularly in his dramatic win over longtime heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko last year, Barry believed Joshua had not been under the heat against an opponent like Parker.
Joseph Parker and Kevin Barry. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
That expectation that Joshua would be far too good, despite the fact both fighters are undefeated, may work against the hometown favourite, Barry said.
"Most of the pressure is on Joshua in this fight.
"He's the one that has that huge expectation, he's the one who is the bookies overwhelming favourite.
"He's also the one who is under pressure to walk across the ring and knock Joseph Parker out, a guy who has never been down in his amateur or professional career."
Whether feeling that pressure or not, Joshua has mostly appeared typically composed and confident this week.
Parker, though, has matched that with an assured performance in the glare of the global media at the final pre-fight press conference and the almost permanent smile across his face as he prepares for the biggest challenge of his career.
But Barry warned people should not be fooled by the calm demeanour of his 26-year-old charge.
"He's been locked in for a long time.
"One minute he's talking to his friends as he's warming up [but] when him and I start working it's like a switch goes off and you can tell he's thinking.
"He's analysing and he's going over different parts of our game plan and strategy."
It now comes down to executing that strategy, which is expected to be to fight off the early onslaught from the powerful Joshua and use superior speed and movement to come home strong in the second half of the fight.
Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Many have also argued that dealing with the size of the occasion will also be a crucial hurdle for Parker.
Being held under the roof at the Principality Stadium, the fight will take place in front of a sell-out crowd of 80,000 people and a global TV audience stretching into the millions.
However, Barry reiterated that the magnitude of the bout would not be an issue for the New Zealander, insisting Team Parker were in a strong place mentally.
"Letting the size of this event and the global nature of it control us and our emotions will have no affect on the fight.
"We're not going to be involved in that, we believe in our process and believe in what we are doing.
"If we don't get the job done on Saturday night it won't be because of the size of event or nerves or anything like that."
- RNZ
