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Sport

01st Apr 2018

Anthony Joshua’s celebration was the talk of social media after unanimous decision win

Brilliant

Darragh Murphy

#WakandaForever

Someone’s 0 had to go and Anthony Joshua did everything in his power to make sure it wasn’t his as he stuck to his gameplan and condemned Joseph Parker to the first defeat of his professional career.

Joshua had never been the distance before but displayed no gas tank issues thanks to his slimmer physique as he avoided danger throughout the twelve rounds with Parker.

After relieving the previously unbeaten New Zealander of his WBO heavyweight belt, ‘AJ’ set social media alight with his Wakanda Forever celebration in the ring.

https://twitter.com/RaeNolan_/status/980215153332506625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.givemesport.com%2F1285900-twitter-reacts-to-what-anthony-joshua-did-straight-after-defeating-joseph-parker

Wakanda is a fictional African nation which features in Marvel comics and achieved mainstream popularity in the hit movie Black Panther.

We’ve seen Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard use the same gesture to celebrate his winner against Chelsea in February.

And Joshua had clearly planned to break it out when he moved to 21-0 in front of 80,000 screaming fans.

“I am not going to judge my performance,” Joshua said. “That’s for my coach to do. My strategy was to get behind the jab and we did that. The good jab will take you around the world.

“Through rounds 10, 11 and 12, I was focused. I went the 12 rounds and I fought him hard, but it was light work. This is boxing. This is what we do. Joseph Parker is a world champion. I knew he was going to be determined. Sometimes this is how it goes. It becomes a tactical boxing fight. This was going to be about finesse, and I controlled behind the jab and used finesse.

“We cannot forget – I am now the unified heavyweight champion of the world.”