11-02-2016, 10:51 AM
Auckland still on Joseph Parker's radar as WBO heavyweight title fight preparations ramp up
Trainer Kevin Barry and New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker continue working towards a December 10 clash with Mexico's Andy Ruiz for the vacant WBO title.
A focused Joseph Parker continues to work on the presumption his fight for the WBO heavyweight title will be held in New Zealand.
Parker's promoters Duco Events are expected to announce their plans for the fight on Thursday.
They won the rights to stage the fight in Auckland on December 10 but have been battling to find the funds to hold it at such notice.
If they can't manage that, the fight rights will be handed to Ruiz's veteran promoter Bob Arum to hold the bout in the United States, probably early next year.
But Parker keeps putting the original date out there.
"Excited for #DEC10, are YOU?" Parker wrote in his latest postings on Facebook and Twitter which were placed late on Tuesday night.
And in a just-released interview with Coconet.tv, the Kiwi-born Samoan and his trainer Kevin Barry referenced December 10 and the New Zealand connotations.
"I said at the end of last year in an interview, 'Give me a year and I'll be champion of the world' and it looks like it's heading that way. If you believe in yourself, you have the right guidance and right people around you ... but the buzzy thing about it is it's going to be in New Zealand ... should be in New Zealand ... and we are going to make history," Parker told Coconet.tv.
"Winning that title in New Zealand would be a dream come true."
Parker was speaking at his current training camp in Las Vegas and was in a confident mood.
"I've worked hard, I've put in the work training. Being away from home, putting in the work every single day, three times a day. And it's not all me, it's a team effort, I have a great team," he said.
"I have got a whole new focus and everything is flowing nicely. Mentally I'm in the right place, I'm getting a lot of help with things I need help with, I feel good."
Enjoying physical advantages over unbeaten Ruiz, Parker is out to make the most of those to counter the Mexican's aggressive approach
"He's short, I'm going to punch him from the outside and jab his head. I'm going to use my height and my reach and not let him come in," Parker said.
"I have full trust in my training and full trust in what Kevin is teaching me. Put anyone in front of me when I'm at my best and I'll beat anyone."
Parker also dismissed his sparring struggles with Ruiz when he tangled with him in Las Vegas in 2013, just as he came under Barry's tutelage.
"It's 2016 now, I'm a more complete fighter. I have all these different skills, I know what I'm doing in the ring, I'm comfortable."
- Stuff
Trainer Kevin Barry and New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker continue working towards a December 10 clash with Mexico's Andy Ruiz for the vacant WBO title.
A focused Joseph Parker continues to work on the presumption his fight for the WBO heavyweight title will be held in New Zealand.
Parker's promoters Duco Events are expected to announce their plans for the fight on Thursday.
They won the rights to stage the fight in Auckland on December 10 but have been battling to find the funds to hold it at such notice.
If they can't manage that, the fight rights will be handed to Ruiz's veteran promoter Bob Arum to hold the bout in the United States, probably early next year.
But Parker keeps putting the original date out there.
"Excited for #DEC10, are YOU?" Parker wrote in his latest postings on Facebook and Twitter which were placed late on Tuesday night.
And in a just-released interview with Coconet.tv, the Kiwi-born Samoan and his trainer Kevin Barry referenced December 10 and the New Zealand connotations.
"I said at the end of last year in an interview, 'Give me a year and I'll be champion of the world' and it looks like it's heading that way. If you believe in yourself, you have the right guidance and right people around you ... but the buzzy thing about it is it's going to be in New Zealand ... should be in New Zealand ... and we are going to make history," Parker told Coconet.tv.
"Winning that title in New Zealand would be a dream come true."
Parker was speaking at his current training camp in Las Vegas and was in a confident mood.
"I've worked hard, I've put in the work training. Being away from home, putting in the work every single day, three times a day. And it's not all me, it's a team effort, I have a great team," he said.
"I have got a whole new focus and everything is flowing nicely. Mentally I'm in the right place, I'm getting a lot of help with things I need help with, I feel good."
Enjoying physical advantages over unbeaten Ruiz, Parker is out to make the most of those to counter the Mexican's aggressive approach
"He's short, I'm going to punch him from the outside and jab his head. I'm going to use my height and my reach and not let him come in," Parker said.
"I have full trust in my training and full trust in what Kevin is teaching me. Put anyone in front of me when I'm at my best and I'll beat anyone."
Parker also dismissed his sparring struggles with Ruiz when he tangled with him in Las Vegas in 2013, just as he came under Barry's tutelage.
"It's 2016 now, I'm a more complete fighter. I have all these different skills, I know what I'm doing in the ring, I'm comfortable."
- Stuff