Big hitting New Zealand heavyweight prospect Joseph Parker (15-0, 13ko) is keen to pay homage to his Samoan ancestry with a fight in the tiny Polynesian nation, hopefully next year, after his team visited both government officials and local business this month on a logistical scouting trip to get the idea off of the ground.
With a population of just 194,000, putting a fight on there would in essence be a logistical nightmare, involving the construction of a temporary international TV station, the transportation of tonnes of equipment and 27 dedicated personnel from NZ to help complete the exercise, though such is the belief in Parker and his burgeoning worldwide profile, the project is already ‘just beyond orange light status’ according to Duco Events boss David Higgins, who hopes to have a deal finalized next month.
Speaking to stuff.co.nz, Higgin’s stated that the nation’s Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has been extremely receptive to the idea, with an emphasis on Parker’s growing reputation as ‘one to watch’ being used to help propel the Island(s) nation into the international spotlight.
“The people were welcoming, they are open-minded and offered lateral thinking for what is a challenging but fascinating exercise,” Higgins said of this month’s visit.
“We want to make this happen and having a historic fight on Samoan soil is looking very promising,” he added.
“Samoa boxes above its weight per capita. They had David Tua fight for a world title, Maselino Masoe win a world title and we believe Joseph Parker is a superstar in the making who will [also] go on to win a world title.
“He is hugely popular there and making this happen this would be a dream come true for Joseph, his family and his fans.”
The exciting Parker, who now trains in Las Vegas with countryman and (in)famous 1984 Olympic silver medalist, Kevin Barry, has two fights left this year before he looks to go stepping up the levels in the pursuit of meaningful titles. He will box 45 year old veteran Kali Meehan in Auckland on October 15th before headlining the ‘Fight for Life’ fundraising promotion against a TBA on December 5th, in Hamilton, NZ.
The Auckland fighter is seemingly on an eventual collision course with London 2012 gold medalist and Commonwealth champion, Anthony Joshua (14-0, 14ko), who fights Dillian Whyte in London, England on December 12th, and a fight next year with the winner, for the Commonwealth title, would be absolutely mouth watering in the [perhaps unlikely] event it got made.
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