Murphy, who trains boxers at Finchley ABC in north London, first encountered Joshua as a hyperactive teenager who soon caught the bug for boxing.
The 53-year-old remembers the now two-belt world champion as an obsessive trainer, something he himself backed up when he admitted an “addiction” to boxing yesterday, who would practice new skills over and over until he had learned them.
And Murphy reckons that his opponent on Saturday, WBO champion Parker, will struggle to fight the skilful and powerful heavyweight up close.
“Stylistically, he might try to walk Anthony Joshua down and that will be dangerous because if he’s going to do that, he’s going to get caught on the way in,” Murphy told Express Sport.
“If he can take the power of Josh, then he’ll be in for a hard night’s work. I know he’s talking a good game and that he’s going to come in and beat him up.
“But I think he’s going to be a bit more technical and then try to do what he’s saying in the later rounds.
“It’ll be a good fight, and a tough one while it lasts, but I fancy Josh to stop him late on.
Parker meanwhile is confident in his own ability to beat Joshua.
The 26-year-old is unbeaten in 24 professional bouts and successfully defended his WBO belt against Hughie Fury last September.
However, Parker refused to make a prediction about when he would end the fight or whether he would rely on the judges’ scorecards.
“I’m going to beat him but I haven’t decided how I want to beat him yet,” Parker said.
“I don’t know if it’s a knockout, points or decision.
“I’ll see how I feel on fight night.”
Joshua meanwhile was more than happy to play tipster, having pocketed £650 by correctly predicting rival Dillian Whyte’s sixth-round stoppage of Lucas Browne on Saturday night.
“For my last four fights, I’ve been exactly on, or a round out,” Joshua said.
“So what’s the pick for Saturday? Now it’s on my mind I have to match my good record but I’m no Muhammad Ali [when it comes to predicting fights].
“One thing I used to think was, when you say it’s going four rounds and you’re opponent is still in there in round eight and you’re thinking… ‘oh no’.
“Before Carlos Takam I said 10 rounds; I said I’d beat him in 10 rounds and I did. I always say, mentally, I’m ready to go 12 rounds. But, if everything goes to plan I think people fade between round eight and nine.
“I think Parker will fade around eight or nine.”
****William Hill enlisted the help of Sean Murphy to see if brand ambassador Robbie Savage could pack a punch ahead of Joshua’s fight against Joseph Parker on Saturday 31 March. William Hill won’t be beaten on round betting and you can back Joshua to win in the third round at 10/1. For all the best prices head to williamhill.com. Odds subject to change.***
