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RE: Joseph Parker - tm7 - 04-14-2016
Parker talks Takam and Joshua
Interview/photo: Bryce Wilson
On May 21st at Vodafone Events Centre in South Auckland, New Zealand, unbeaten heavyweight Joseph Parker (18-0, 16 KOs) is set to face Carlos Takam (33-2-1, 25 KOs) in what will be an IBF title eliminator with the victor set to face IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. Many who follow the sport have labelled Parker as the ‘next big thing’ or at the very least part of the new guard set to revitalize boxing’s glamour division.
In facing Takam, Parker is set to take a giant leap up in the quality of opponent. It is a fight that should serve as a an accurate barometer as to whether the Kiwi prospect really is as good as some people believe or whether much more work remains to be done before he is ready to mix in the heady climes of the elite in the division, along with the Fury’s, Klitschko’s and Wilders of the world.
FightNews caught up with Joseph to get an update on camp so far, his feelings about having the Takam fight secured in his hometown of South Auckland and his thoughts on the Martin/Joshua fight last weekend.
Congratulations on securing the fight in New Zealand. A lot of people in New Zealand were expecting Vector Arena as the venue as it is Auckland’s biggest arena, but instead you’re fighting at the Vodafone Events Centre in South Auckland instead. Talk us through that decision?
Firstly the idea of fighting in New Zealand was so important for all of us, my trainer Kevin Barry, my promoters Duco and of course myself. We’ve had so much support in New Zealand and we knew the public has been waiting for a big fight like this. That gives me extra drive to put on a good show for those who have supported me in my career so far.
More specifically fighting in South Auckland, well that is my backyard. I used to live literally 10-15 minutes down the road from the arena we’ll be fighting in. It’s close to all my family and friends.
So familiarity played a big part in the choice of venue?
Exactly. This is the biggest fight of my career so it’s about fighting where we feel most comfortable. When I enter the arena I know where everything is, I’ve fought there a few times before, it’s so relaxing to know a place inside out I feel like I’m at home. It’s where I’m meant to be.
And I guess you must have driven past that venue many times as a kid. Did it ever occur to you that one day you would be headlining a place like that?
No, not all! We’ve driven past that place so many times as a family and I even fought there once on David Tua’s undercard as an amateur. But to one day be the one able to fill up that arena myself, it’s a great feeling and a humbling feeling to be able to do that in my hometown.
I’ve often wanted to ask a fighter this. What’s it like when you are driving to a venue and you see all the people streaming in and you realise that they are all coming to see you?
It’s definitely surreal and strange. You see all these cars parked on the side of the road and people walking to the venue and I’m driving there and I suddenly think ‘damn they’re coming to see me!’ It’s a crazy feeling no doubt but it also provides great excitement and helps get you into fight mode, you don’t want to let them down. It is something you have to get used to. I like to do the same thing myself when I go the MGM to watch say Floyd fight, I go as a fan
I wonder, not just as a young athlete but also as a guy trying to make a living is it tough to have people discussing how much you are earning, and what that preconceived notion might be? Because usually what someone makes is their own business.
Yes it’s a little weird because people read certain figures in the media and the immediate assumption is we’re making a lot, but that’s not always the actual truth. You have training costs, living costs and so forth. Don’t get me wrong, we’re doing alright and if I can fulfill my potential then I guess the bigger money will ultimately be there. I don’t tend to think of it too much.
I see you and Takam have engaged in a little bit of back and forth on Twitter. Are you enjoying having some more interaction with opponents before the fights? The reality is there are some decent trash talkers higher up the rankings that you will encounter.
Oh there are a lot of trash talkers in the heavyweight division. You’ve got a lot of guys that if they have the opportunity with me in the future they will talk the game. But it’s something you’ve got to learn, and how to adapt to it and how to control it. Our talking so far has been very very tame but it shows we still have a lot of respect but at the same time we’re both confidant moving into this fight.
Sparring wise how has it been going? I know that Kevin Barry has asked the sparring partners so far to not spare anything when coming at you.
Yeah the guys that we have so far, they’re putting pressure on looking to replicate what Takam will bring and I know Kevin is looking at introducing more sparring partners to keep them fresh and the intensity levels high and they will work me more. What we do believe from what we’ve experienced in the sparring is that everything we’ve practiced over the last three years is falling into place. It’s been the best camp of my career to date.
Realistically Takam’s best opportunity is to make this as rough and scrappy as he can. I know Kevin mentioned the word discipline when talking about this fight. That’s the key isn’t it?
Yes, the brawling type fight is the fight he has to come with. I’ve got some height on him, reach on him and I believe quicker hands as well so he has to find a way to get inside. We’ve been watching a lot of tape on him of course and he might not be the best mover but he makes up for it with pressure and by walking you down.
It’s fair to say in the past you have been lured into the odd brawl when you haven’t needed to. In a sense if you fight to your strengths you could almost make this a boring fight by being very clinical about it?
I agree, if I use what Kevin instructs me to use and with the tools I possess I can make this a much easier fight for myself. I know we say that in every fight it’s important to follow the game plan but never before in my career has there been a fight where it is more important to follow the plan to the absolute letter of what is laid out. We can make it a hard fight or we can make it a much easier fight for ourselves. It’s better to be smart and use your natural advantages than get lured into the other guy’s type of fight.
In the fights that you were most disciplined in as opposed to some of the fights where you maybe brawled a little more what do you think the difference was?
Honestly the fights where I had the best focus were the fights that presented the greatest challenge and dangers at the time: the Costa Junior fight, the Minto fight as well as when we fought Frans Botha, these were the fights where my discipline was at its best. And for this fight it will be at another level again.
We often talk seeing a fighter lift in intensity for big fights but have you seen a change in the intensity from your trainer Kevin Barry as well?
He’s definitely stepped up his game no. It’s important for both of us to step up and he really has. He’s brought ideas and structures into this camp that I haven’t seen before and it’s really helped push me to that next level.
He’s always believed that you have fought somewhat within yourself, but this may well be the fight where you get to showcase some of the things you’ve been working on in the gym?
This is going to be by far the most challenging fight I’ve ever been in and it’s going to bring the best out in me. Honestly I’m excited that we may get the opportunity to show the fans what we’ve been working on in the gym these past three years.
Finally, of course there was a fight with gigantic implications for your own career happening over the weekend. What did you make of Anthony Joshua’s win over Charles Martin?
Well of course I must first say my focus is on Carlos Takam right now! (Laughs) But yes I did watch the fight. I was picking Joshua to win and he did what he had to do to win the fight. He looked dominant and powerful. Saying that Charles Martin also looked somewhat overawed by the occasion, very nervous and he didn’t really offer anything up for Joshua.
It’s no secret that we’ve always wanted to fight Joshua, so in that sense I’m happy that he won. Like every fighter you do feel as though you see some holes and opportunities that you can capitalize on. We’d feel very confident in facing him as I’m sure he would do in facing us. It would make for a very crowd pleasing fight.
* * *
Now that Joshua has claimed his price of the heavyweight title, the preferred outcome for a resurgent heavyweight division would be for Parker to prevail over Takam and let the young guns line up each other’s undefeated records in what would surely be an epic encounter in London either later this year or early 2017.
RE: Joseph Parker - craigyid14 - 04-14-2016
I see that G.A tickets for the fight go on sale 2nd may. Anybody have any idea of prices?
RE: Joseph Parker - diehard - 04-15-2016
KB Speaks:
http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/kevin-barry-this-is-by-far-and-away-the-best-joseph-parker-i-have-seen-333371
RE: Joseph Parker - faimoko - 04-15-2016
(04-14-2016, 06:21 PM)craigyid14 Wrote: I see that G.A tickets for the fight go on sale 2nd may. Anybody have any idea of prices?
$50-60 PPV
AM I the only one in the world that don't rate Carlos Takam and @ 34 he's old and slow..the match maker can see this too lol, you guys think this will be tough for JP but I don't think so..
RE: Joseph Parker - shamrock - 04-15-2016
Don't go on age fai me old mate, I'm getting on but could still beat diehard dontchange think? lol
RE: Joseph Parker - diehard - 04-15-2016
Joseph Parker and Kevin Barry highlight discipline as key to beating brawler Carlos Takam in IBF heavyweight eliminator
Joseph Parker has shown good defence as well as a potent attack as he's manouevred himself to be a fight away from a world title shot.
Joseph Parker is promising his most disciplined performance, believing that's what will be required to beat rugged French heavyweight Carlos Takam.
Parker and Takam fight in South Auckland in an IBF eliminator on May 21. The winner will get the mandatory rights to take on Britain's new champion Anthony Joshua.
Parker has been guilty of losing his cool at times and straying from fight plans during an unbeaten run of 18 fights that has taken him to the doorstep of international stardom.
The 24-year-old doesn't want that to blot the biggest opportunity of his blossoming career.
READ MORE:
* Larry Holmes backs Parker to be world champ
* Joshua title win sets up possible Parker 'mega fight'
* Anthony Joshua right stuns Charles Martin for title win
He knows he needs strategy to match his raw power, movement and astonishing hand speed that will be his biggest assets against the 35-year-old Takam.
Discipline is the key ingredient trainer Kevin Barry is hammering into Parker at their lengthy training camp in Las Vegas.
"If I use what Kevin instructs me to use and with the tools I possess I can make this a much easier fight for myself," Parker told Fightnews.com.
"I know we say that in every fight it's important to follow the game plan but never before in my career has there been a fight where it is more important to follow the plan to the absolute letter of what is laid out.
"We can make it a hard fight or we can make it a much easier fight for ourselves. It's better to be smart and use your natural advantages than get lured into the other guy's type of fight.
"The brawling type fight is the fight Takam has to come with. I've got some height on him, reach on him and I believe quicker hands as well, so he has to find a way to get inside. We've been watching a lot of tape on him of course and he might not be the best mover but he makes up for it with pressure and by walking you down."
Parker backs himself to keep his cool because the situation demands it.
"Honestly the fights where I had the best focus were the fights that presented the greatest challenge and dangers at the time: the Costa Junior fight, the Minto fight as well as when we fought Frans Botha, these were the fights where my discipline was at its best. And for this fight it will be at another level again."
Barry doesn't want to give any of the game plan away. But he also stresses the importance of discipline against an opponent who will look to stalk and engage, fighting close and wearing down Parker.
Barry is encouraged by what Parker has been showing during some intensive sparring where he has ordered the training partners to go hard at his fighter.
"This fight is all about discipline and precision punching," Barry told Fightnews.com.
"Takam has some very good strengths, he's awkward, he punches off angles, he's not your stereo typical fighter and this is one of the biggest assets to his game. Because of that it is going to be ultra important for Joseph to fight a smart fight. Yes he's a good boxer and he has fast hands but it's how he uses those hands. It's also about how he controls the tempo of the fight and the distance in the fight. It's going to be the ultimate test for Joseph's discipline."
Barry says Parker's development continues and it's time to bring out some new tricks.
"Joseph possesses a large arsenal of weapons that the fans haven't seen before, so we will have different strategies in play for this fight. We've got a great fight plan for Joseph which he has been executing in sparring and I like what I'm seeing. I believe he's taken another step up to a higher level from anything I've seen in the past."
With the heavyweight division opening up with each major fight, Barry believes the time is right for Parker to make his move.
"This fight brings real risk but it also brings real reward. This challenge against Takam is occurring at the right time in Joseph's development. The style of Takam, the aggression of Takam, the strength and physicality of Takam will bring out the best of Joseph Parker. I really believe that and I expect to see it.
"This fight is the pathway for Joseph to secure a heavyweight title challenge, so it's important we get his best work from him in training camp and see his best work on fight night and also that he takes his ring generalship to new heights which are going to be required not just in this fight, but in the fights to follow. This is a different level of opposition, it's a bigger challenge and its becoming very real. I think we're seeing that with Anthony Joshua right now as well, it's becoming real for him too.
"This is the fight where Joseph can put all of his skill and talent on display. Where everything he's learned in the last three years, his previous 18 fights, the sparring with the likes of Stiverne and Klitschko, this is where he gets to use all of that.
"This is where we get to find out if this young man is the heir apparent to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world, which I believe he is."
RE: Joseph Parker - diehard - 04-15-2016
Fai, don't think for a minute that Sham could whoop me. Here's what I'd do: I'd smack him with a hard jab that would knock him back. He'd shake it off and take three or four steps trying to chase me as I'm running for dear life but laughing at the same time. After 4 steps, Sham starts looking for his meds that I had hidden from him before I smacked him. I keep laughing because now Sham is gasping for breath. Soon he's begging me to tell him where his meds are. After much begging, I finally tell him after a promise that he'll behave himself from now on. He promises, but you know how Sham promises.
Yes, age DOES matter.
RE: Joseph Parker - shamrock - 04-15-2016
Haha die, I use to be good at slipping jabs..
RE: Joseph Parker - diehard - 04-16-2016
Parker sparring video:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000233200059
RE: Joseph Parker - NakiFan - 04-17-2016
Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker could be third in line to fight IBF champion Anthony Joshua, a clash which could take place in London early next year.
Many things have to fall into place for the fight to happen, not least Parker beating tough Cameroon veteran Carlos Takam at Manukau's Vodafone Events Centre on May 21.
But 24-year-old Parker, who would be the mandatory challenger to Joshua's belt should he win, is in the thoughts of Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn, as well as those of Tyson Fury, the WBO and WBA champion preparing for a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko.
Joshua's first defence of his title, which he won in convincing fashion last weekend with a second-round knockout of Charles Martin, one of the most underwhelming champions in recent history, will come in July.
Hearn said he wanted the fight on July 9 - a clash with Fury v Klitschko in Manchester, which is on the same date - but regardless it is likely to be a tune-up bout for Joshua before he potentially goes head to head in a big-money fight with Fury in November.
A unification fight would take precedence over Parker's challenge, but, should Joshua remain successful, the way could be clear for Parker to then fight for not only the IBF title, but potentially also the WBO and WBA belts. Given Hearn is likely to keep the 26-year-old Joshua active, it wouldn't be out of the question to see him fight Parker in January or February 2017.
Hearn sees Parker as a genuine threat, but also a potential money maker for himself and Joshua.
The path would not be as straightforward should Fury win, because the man who refers to himself as the Gypsy King is as unorthodox out of the ring as he is in it, but the good news for Parker is that Fury rates him and is prepared to fight him.
Joshua's promoter Hearn said recently: "My plan is to fight on July 9 or wherever, then to go in mid-early November and then look at our mandatory. Now, the unification would allow us to avoid the mandatory if it wasn't the right guy, ie. commercially great for us. But again, Joseph Parker could be a great fight for Joshua, that could be a big fight.
"It's like this massive jigsaw at the moment but you can't really wait on these fights because sometimes they just don't happen. But with Fury, all of a sudden, maybe November is the time to make the fight."
Hearn, like Joshua, suddenly hot property with the British media, added: "I think Tyson Fury's an easy fight for Joshua. I see no problems in that fight at all. I think he knocks him out convincingly. I think he does exactly the same to him as what he did to [Charles] Martin. He's too slow. People say Klitschko couldn't get him out, Klitschko never had the no-fear policy and the speed and the power."
The outspoken Fury, meanwhile, has said he would fight "anyone at any time. I'll fight [WBC champion Deontay] Wilder, I'll fight Joshua, I'll fight Klitschko, whoever, next. Parker, Joseph Parker, I really rate that guy and I'd like to share a ring with him."