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.

Parker To Continue To Rise Up The Heavyweight Ranks

03/03/201503/03/2015 Eugene Carnachan

March 5th, Auckland, New Zealand rising heavyweight Joseph Parker goes head to head with once beaten American Jason Pettaway.

Pettaway 17-1-0 sports a handy resume, however on closer inspection only five of the opponents he’s faced to date have positive win-loss records.

In 2012 Pettaway took a big step up in fighting than undefeated Russian Magomed Abdusalamov. Early on Pettaway had moments, using his right hand to counter the aggressive southpaw. Unfortunately for Pettaway he didn’t have the power to win the respect of Abdusalamov, the Russian walking him down before stopping him by way of TKO in the 4th round.

Joseph Parker Q & A

02/10/201502/10/2015 Eugene Carnachan

WBA (10) and WBO (11) ranked heavyweight Joseph Parker (12-0-0) is training for his next fight with American heavyweight Jason Pettaway (17-1-0). Parker takes time out of his training schedule to talk to us about his career to date, while also offering his thoughts on joining the Wladimir Klitschko camp later this year as a sparring partner for the man regarded as the best heavyweight on the planet.

Joe what’s the plan for you in 2015?

Looking forward to getting back in the ring after a good year last year and fighting someone with a different style.

Q & A: Kevin Barry

02/06/201502/06/2015 Eugene Carnachan

KEVIN BARRY TALKS ABOUT TRAINING WORLD CLASS HEAVYWEIGHT JOSEPH PARKER: Kevin Barry is training rising heavyweight prospect Joseph Parker (12-0-0) at a privately owned boxing gym in the suburbs of Las Vegas. I spent the morning with Barry at this facility discussing how Parker is tracking for his next fight with Jason Pettaway, and his future plans for the young heavyweight.

Q; Explain the set-up of this training facility?

This is a privately owned gym facility that I use to train Joseph and another heavyweight Izu Ugonoh .It’s great having a facility where it’s only Joe and I. He’s also living with me and has become every bit a part of my family.

Joseph Parker fights Jason Pettaway in March, confirmed to join Wladimir Klitschko’s camp in April

01/12/2015 Bryce Wilson

Rising heavyweight contender Joseph Parker’s (12-0, 10 KO’s) next fight has been announced for March 5th at Auckland’s Vodafone Events Centre, where he will face American, Jason Pettaway (17-1, 10 KO’s.)

Pettaway has been pegged by Coach Kevin Barry as something of a mover in the ring and someone who won’t remain stationary in front of his powerful protégé. Learning to effectively cut off his opponent’s space is definitely a work-on for Parker and in Pettaway they hope to have found an adversary who will test these abilities.

Interview: Joseph Parker Discusses His Upcoming Fight With Costa Junior

12/03/2014 Bryce Wilson

This strange life, such is the itinerant and transient schedule of the professional fighter which constitutes Joseph Parker’s life nowadays: He lives and trains in Las Vegas with Coach Kevin Barry, has fought in three different countries over the course of 2014 and now we find him on a Saturday afternoon in a deserted ballroom at Auckland’s Pullman hotel, just he and Barry hitting the mitts and making small talk along way.

Kevin and Joseph have been generous enough to invite us into camp on a couple of occasions now and each time I’ve been struck by how light and humorous the tone is. As an example Kevin mentions Kiwi golfing phenom Lydia Ko who recently collected a $1.5 million dollar payday on the women’s LPGA and Joseph’s eyes light up as he quips to Kevin that ‘maybe it isn’t too late for us to turn to golf!’

Joseph Parker moves into WBA Heavyweight Top 10

11/24/2014 Bryce Wilson

Young up and coming heavyweight Joseph Parker has been rewarded for his busy schedule in 2014 by being moved into the WBA’s top 10 ranked heavyweights.

Parker has already fought 4 times this year with a 5th and final bout being announced to take place on December 6th in Hamilton, New Zealand against WBO 15th ranked heavyweight, Brazilian knockout artist Irineu Beato Costa Junior.

Beato Costa Junior has ended 13 of his 15 victories by KO and this fight presents an element of risk for Parker, especially when considering the limited time available that Parker and Coach Kevin Barry have had to study tape on their opponent.

Joseph Parker vs Sherman Williams round by round

10/17/201410/16/2014 Eugene Carnachan

Great crowd, the corporate seats at ringside are full with the Auckland bourgeoisie out to watch the latest edition of New Zealand’s heavyweight hopefuls in Joseph Parker.

Parker at 22 years of age and Williams twenty years his senior at 42 years of age has the youthful zeal and fitness firmly on his side.

Parker sporting a record 10 (KO 9) – 0 and Williams at 36 (19)-13-2 has his comparative trainer wheels on in terms of experience, however experience won’t be the defining factor in this fight.

Parker defeats Williams, stays unbeaten!

07/21/201910/16/2014 Bryce Wilson

Trusts Arena, Auckland. On the undercard returning Polish Heavyweight Izu Ugonoh scored a 2nd round TKO against Junior Iakopo to take his record to 10-0 (8KO’s).

In front of a raucous home crowd at Trusts Arena, Joseph Parker pounded out a unanimous decision against a very durable and game Sherman Williams.

Parker came out in the first round establishing the distance with what is becoming his trademark jab, doubling it up as well as shooting it to the body, leaving Williams looking unsure of how he could find a way inside.

In camp with Joseph Parker

10/08/2014 Bryce Wilson

Eastside Boxing gets an invite into Joseph Parker’s training camp as he prepares for his October 16th fight with Sherman ‘The Tank’ Williams.

Driving through this low key industrial estate in East Auckland there are no neon signs or flashing lights that scream out boxing gym and that is just how Coach Kevin Barry prefers it. Like a mirage in the desert, housed out the back of contracting company is a small purpose-built boxing gym built by the company’s owner and personal friend of Barry.

It is a place free of distractions and allows Team Parker to get down to the business of work uninterrupted. However if anyone were to walk through the doors the exertion being put in is obvious. You can see it as the young fighters are put through their paces watched intently by their trainer. You can hear it with every thud of the heavy bag or crack of the mitts and you can definitely sense it as the air vibrates around them.