Joseph Parker set to face Kali Meehan on October 15th

08/05/201508/05/2015 Bryce Wilson

Fast rising heavyweight contender Joseph Parker 15(13)-0 has just announced his next opponent as fellow countryman Kali Meehan 42(32)-5. Parker in keeping with the busy schedule laid down by his team last year is lining up the well respected Meehan as his 4th opponent of 2015 with another fight set to follow in December as well as a potential bout in Samoa tentatively pencilled in for late January next year.

Meehan an 18 year veteran and former world title challenger, who still commands a respectable Boxrec ranking of twenty nine, marks a jump in competition for Parker who will be looking to see if he can keep his recent impressive knockout streak going.

Parker annihilates Tupou!

08/02/201508/01/2015 Eugene Carnachan

Invercargill New Zealand, 7th ranked WBO heavyweight Joseph Parker (15-0-0) absolutely annihilated 13th ranked WBO heavyweight Bowie Tupou (25-4-0). Tupou came out of his corner looking to bull-rush Parker, swinging looping overhand punches from the cheap seats in trying to land a big shot early. Parker stayed calm, worked at establishing his jab and as Tupou come boring in again he timed a perfectly leveraged short right hand that landed on the crown of Tupou’s head, sending Tupou crashing face first to the canvass in about as devastating a knockout as you will see. Over at 1:06 of the first round.

Joseph Parker Knocks Bowie Tupou out cold in Invercargill, NZ

09/23/201508/01/2015 Olly Campbell

Big punching New Zealander Joseph Parker sent a further warning signal to the heavyweight division tonight, wiping out Bowie Tupou in a little over a minute in Invercargill with a stunning right hook up close that the Tonga born fighter simply didn’t see coming.

Tupou lay motionless, face down on the canvas for a few genuinely worrying moments before eventually being lifted to his feet. The 23 year old Parker improved to 15-0, 13 early with the 1st round victory – his 9th inside 3 rounds.

Best Joseph Parker yet?

08/01/2015 Eugene Carnachan

Saturday 1st of August, Invercargill New Zealand, upcoming Kiwi-Samoan heavyweight Joseph Parker (14-0-0) ranked 7th by the WBO fights WBO 13th ranked Australian heavyweight Bowie Tupou (25-3-0) in what is the highest ranked boxing match ever held in the country.

Joseph Parker has turned up in New Zealand from his Las Vegas base in outstanding fettle, and while Parker has never turned up to a fight out of condition he has presented himself for this fight in the shape of his career. His muscularly defined physique leading fans to think they are about to see something special from the regions premiere big man.

On the face value of Parker’s physical appearance it would appear he and coach Kevin Barry have gone to a whole new level in their pre-fight preparations.

Joseph Parker Interview: Winning fights and feeding his fans

08/01/201507/29/2015 Bryce Wilson

Joseph Parker is back in town preparing to face hard hitting Tongan Bowie Tupou on August 1st at Stadium Southland, Invercargill. While comparisons are often odious it isn’t until our interview has concluded and we have reached the training gym that one begins to see the results of all the hard work Parker has been putting in with Kevin Barry over the past 24 months and the difference in how he now physically looks from the fleshy fresh faced rookie who began his tutelage with Barry back in 2013.

While always being a decent sized heavyweight, Parker’s physique now resembles that, to use the English vernacular, of a brick outhouse. The shoulders are noticeably broader, the chest and arms now filling out as Parker continues to grow into his frame. And just in case anyone is wondering, if watching him hit the mitts is any indication, he hasn’t lost any of his trademark speed.

Preview: Joseph Parker V Yakup Saglam

06/13/201506/12/2015 Eugene Carnachan

Palmerston North, New Zealand, Saturday 13th of June rising heavyweight Joseph Parker 13 -0-0, 11 KOs) takes on German based Turk Yakup Saglam (34-3-0, 31 KOs).

Saglam on his first visit to New Zealand has passed off some lofty proclamations, first been that he gave Wladimir Klitschko so much so heat in sparring sessions the champ couldn’t handle it. Going as far as to say he had the champ ‘scared’ and after only two days of what was meant to be a two week sparring assignment his services were dispensed with.

Joseph Parker Interview: In the Pursuit of Happiness

06/09/201506/09/2015 Bryce Wilson

Boxing is often referred to as ‘the hurt business’ and over time the sport has been littered with many casualties, oftentimes angry young men whose star burned brightly but then faded just as fast, the dark energy that propels them to the top inevitably proving unsustainable over the long term. Sitting down with Joseph Parker you sense none of that. Instead you find a young man at ease with himself and the environment around him.

Talk which starts with boxing soon moves on to family and friends, a subject that is never far from Joseph’s mind. But it is a deceptive energy because make no mistake; once the opening bell rings, as he has proven in recent fights, he is all business.

ESB: You must be excited to be back on home soil fighting in front of your family and friends. I understand that your parents have been able to watch you fight overseas as well?

Parker KOs Pettaway In 4

03/05/201503/05/2015 Tony Nobbs

WBO Number 9 and WBA number 10 heavyweight Joseph Parker took care of American Jason Pettaway in four rounds at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau City, New Zealand on Thursday night.

Parker was the boss from the start pushing the visitor from West Virginian back with jarring jabs and right hands.

In the second round, Parker hurt Pettaway with a straight right to the body and was cracking him late in the round.

Pettaway came forward trying to make a fight of it in the third but was down from body shots with thirty seconds left in the round and was in trouble at the bell.

Parker vs Pettaway Round by Round

03/05/201503/05/2015 Eugene Carnachan

Joseph Parker (12-0) takes on once beaten American Anthony Pettaway (17-1).

A good crowd has stepped out to see the hometown hero, and in this case it’s quite literally that. Parker is fighting 10 minutes away from where he grew up before shifting to Las Vegas to pursue his boxing career under the guidance of Kevin Barry.

An ensemble of sporting celebs and local fans are in attendance, including a guy that’s found fame for all the wrong reasons. Joseph Parker has given a front row seat ticket to a chap named Teina Pora. Pora did over two decades of jail time for a heinous crime he has being judiciously absolved of. A long time to serve for a crime you didn’t commit. Not boxing news but a nice touch by Parker and his team. Good stuff.

Interview: Joseph Parker on his upcoming fight with Jason Pettaway

03/03/2015 Bryce Wilson

….his relationship with trainer Kevin Barry and his upcoming sparring with Wladimir Klitschko in April

The lobby of the Pullman Hotel, Joseph Parker’s home away from home when he is in Auckland preparing for a fight, is a lot busier than usual. Cricket World Cup fever has hit the country and New Zealand’s national team are also staying at the inner city hotel as they prepare for their upcoming grudge match against fierce rivals Australia. Only the day before Joseph and Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum have done a TV news piece, Parker and Coach Kevin Barry putting the cricketer through his paces in the boxing gym.

When we meet Joseph is downstairs hitting the mitts with Kevin, during which McCullum and several other teammates drift in to take a look at the action, emitting low whistles at the power and precision with which Joseph hits his heavily padded trainer.