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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
….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.
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.
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.