The referee for the world heavyweight unification fight at the end of the month has now been formally selected.

Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker are now in final preparations and sparring ahead of their fight next Saturday week on March 31st.

The bout will take place for the WBO, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles in front of over 80,000 fans at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

The referee as promised beforehand from the event’s organisers will be one from neither of the fighter’s home countries, Giuseppe Quartarone of Italy.

Giuseppe Quartarone carries signficant world title experience and has refereed over 107 professional bouts in his refereeing career to date.

His most recent world title fight refereed came late last year in the lightweight women’s world title fight between Ireland’s Katie Taylor and America’s Jessica McCaskill.

Parker landed in the UK over the past weekend from his training camp in Las Vegas, where he and his trainer Kevin Barry looked all business as they narrow in on the task in front of them.

Game plans will be crucial and it is thought Parker could be looking to box under a mobile game plan from Barry, moving and trying to outbox Joshua.