11-22-2016, 04:07 PM
Kevin Barry worked with Andy Ruiz before taking on Joseph Parker
Trainer Kevin Barry has been thrilled with the rapid development of Joseph Parker that has him fighting for a world title.
Kevin Barry was in the process of negotiating a deal to train Andy Ruiz when Joseph Parker was offered to him.
Circumstances saw him take on the New Zealander and almost four years later Parker and Ruiz line out in Auckland on December 10 fighting for the WBO heavyweight title.
Fate works in funny ways and the irony of this situation isn't lost on Barry who has a strong appreciation of Ruiz's skills but firmly believes Parker has made the most progress in the ensuing years and is ready to deliver New Zealand a historic title.
Barry was rehabilitating from shoulder surgery in 2012 when Ruiz's camp approached him about casting his eye over the talented young Mexican.
"I was going and seeing Andy train and giving some pointers to him, I couldn't do any hands-on stuff because of my shoulder," Barry recalls.
"I was surprised that he had a lot more to learn. But he was an exciting fighter and I went and watched him fight a couple of times.
"I had a meeting with Andy's manager, he liked my approach and everything and after the shoulder was right I was going to be working with Andy. We negotiated a fee to train him, more or less on a weekly basis."
Circumstances changed in Ruiz's corner and Barry has no regrets.
"It [the deal] stalled and then the next minute I'm flying down to New Zealand."
Barry had received a phone call from Parker's bosses at Duco Events about taking on the rookie Kiwi professional who had four wins against nobodies, compared to Ruiz's unbeaten run over 17 fights.
Barry liked what he saw in Parker in terms of skills and potential, struck an instant bond and was intrigued enough to take on the task of turning him into a title contender.
Barry and Parker have arrived at that juncture and across the ring stands Ruiz, a unique fighter who defies his physical shape with lightning hands and deft footwork.
Barry knows this will be an enormous test for Parker.
"I really thought that the kid [Andy] was good enough to be world champion, otherwise I wouldn't have been interested," Barry said of his brief time with Ruiz.
"I saw him fight Oliver McCall's son Elijah in late 2012. McCall was 11-1 and a college footballer, a big strong muscular guy. He came out and cracked Andy flush. I'm literally sitting in the corner ... Andy didn't even move, and then just rips into him and brutally knocks him out. I thought this kid is frickin' awesome.
"Andy was a beast and we'd go around the gyms [in Las Vegas] and spar anyone who was willing to hop in the ring with him."
That's what led to Barry taking Parker to spar with Ruiz the following year, a meeting that has been well recorded. Ruiz smashed an unsuspecting Parker. The Kiwi and his mentor went away, worked on some tricks, and came back and dominated the subsequent sparring session. That gave the younger Parker the confidence that he could handle the pressures of the division.
"When we look back on that now, this was 2013, Joe was learning, he was in his infancy stage, he wasn't even a 10 round fighter," Barry surmises.
"If you look at the improvement and development from 2013 till now, I think most of the development has been done by Joe."
Barry is in the process of rounding off Parker's training for the title fight in Las Vegas where the boxer shares his trainer's house.
Ruiz, meanwhile, continues to work under the no-nonsense approach of title-winning trainer Abel Sanchez in Big Bear, shedding weight and developing a fight plan for his own shot at history to become the first mexican to claim a world heavyweight belt.
- Duncan Johnstone travelled to the United States as a guest of Duco Events.
- Stuff
Trainer Kevin Barry has been thrilled with the rapid development of Joseph Parker that has him fighting for a world title.
Kevin Barry was in the process of negotiating a deal to train Andy Ruiz when Joseph Parker was offered to him.
Circumstances saw him take on the New Zealander and almost four years later Parker and Ruiz line out in Auckland on December 10 fighting for the WBO heavyweight title.
Fate works in funny ways and the irony of this situation isn't lost on Barry who has a strong appreciation of Ruiz's skills but firmly believes Parker has made the most progress in the ensuing years and is ready to deliver New Zealand a historic title.
Barry was rehabilitating from shoulder surgery in 2012 when Ruiz's camp approached him about casting his eye over the talented young Mexican.
"I was going and seeing Andy train and giving some pointers to him, I couldn't do any hands-on stuff because of my shoulder," Barry recalls.
"I was surprised that he had a lot more to learn. But he was an exciting fighter and I went and watched him fight a couple of times.
"I had a meeting with Andy's manager, he liked my approach and everything and after the shoulder was right I was going to be working with Andy. We negotiated a fee to train him, more or less on a weekly basis."
Circumstances changed in Ruiz's corner and Barry has no regrets.
"It [the deal] stalled and then the next minute I'm flying down to New Zealand."
Barry had received a phone call from Parker's bosses at Duco Events about taking on the rookie Kiwi professional who had four wins against nobodies, compared to Ruiz's unbeaten run over 17 fights.
Barry liked what he saw in Parker in terms of skills and potential, struck an instant bond and was intrigued enough to take on the task of turning him into a title contender.
Barry and Parker have arrived at that juncture and across the ring stands Ruiz, a unique fighter who defies his physical shape with lightning hands and deft footwork.
Barry knows this will be an enormous test for Parker.
"I really thought that the kid [Andy] was good enough to be world champion, otherwise I wouldn't have been interested," Barry said of his brief time with Ruiz.
"I saw him fight Oliver McCall's son Elijah in late 2012. McCall was 11-1 and a college footballer, a big strong muscular guy. He came out and cracked Andy flush. I'm literally sitting in the corner ... Andy didn't even move, and then just rips into him and brutally knocks him out. I thought this kid is frickin' awesome.
"Andy was a beast and we'd go around the gyms [in Las Vegas] and spar anyone who was willing to hop in the ring with him."
That's what led to Barry taking Parker to spar with Ruiz the following year, a meeting that has been well recorded. Ruiz smashed an unsuspecting Parker. The Kiwi and his mentor went away, worked on some tricks, and came back and dominated the subsequent sparring session. That gave the younger Parker the confidence that he could handle the pressures of the division.
"When we look back on that now, this was 2013, Joe was learning, he was in his infancy stage, he wasn't even a 10 round fighter," Barry surmises.
"If you look at the improvement and development from 2013 till now, I think most of the development has been done by Joe."
Barry is in the process of rounding off Parker's training for the title fight in Las Vegas where the boxer shares his trainer's house.
Ruiz, meanwhile, continues to work under the no-nonsense approach of title-winning trainer Abel Sanchez in Big Bear, shedding weight and developing a fight plan for his own shot at history to become the first mexican to claim a world heavyweight belt.
- Duncan Johnstone travelled to the United States as a guest of Duco Events.
- Stuff