12-03-2014, 04:44 PM
Boxer Parker out to nail end-of-year exam
NZ Newswire
December 3, 2014, 1:19 pm
Unbeaten heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker likens his upcoming fight to an end-of-year exam, and one that will set him back in a big way if he fails it.
Parker faces Brazilian Irineu Beato Costa Junior in Hamilton this weekend and goes in as the firm favourite.
It will be the 22-year-old Aucklander's fifth and final bout for 2014 and he is looking to improve an 11-0 record that includes nine knock-outs.
"I've had all those tests throughout the year and they've been great opponents," Parker said.
"This is the main end-of-year exam and we have to try to nail it. If I get it wrong on Saturday night, it could set me back 12 to 18 months."
Costa, 34, has a 15-1 record with 13 wins inside the distance, and he is ranked 15th by the WBO.
His sole loss came in his last bout, when German Christian Hammer outpointed him by unanimous decision in October.
He and Parker have met in the ring before, as sparring partners in Las Vegas, when Parker was acquainted with Costa's punching power.
"He caught me with a good shot, a good right hand, which I felt," he said.
"It's been a year now and we've both been developing as fighters, so it's going to be interesting to see the improvement on both sides."
Parker, who is 10th in the WBA rankings, rates Costa as his toughest opponent so far, not just for his power, but also for his height.
At 1.93cm, Parker will have just a one-centimetre advantage.
"The other guys I fought were much shorter, even though they were more experienced," he said
"So this will be a different experience for me, fighting someone my height and trying to adjust my punches to punch upwards instead of downwards."
NZ Newswire
December 3, 2014, 1:19 pm
Unbeaten heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker likens his upcoming fight to an end-of-year exam, and one that will set him back in a big way if he fails it.
Parker faces Brazilian Irineu Beato Costa Junior in Hamilton this weekend and goes in as the firm favourite.
It will be the 22-year-old Aucklander's fifth and final bout for 2014 and he is looking to improve an 11-0 record that includes nine knock-outs.
"I've had all those tests throughout the year and they've been great opponents," Parker said.
"This is the main end-of-year exam and we have to try to nail it. If I get it wrong on Saturday night, it could set me back 12 to 18 months."
Costa, 34, has a 15-1 record with 13 wins inside the distance, and he is ranked 15th by the WBO.
His sole loss came in his last bout, when German Christian Hammer outpointed him by unanimous decision in October.
He and Parker have met in the ring before, as sparring partners in Las Vegas, when Parker was acquainted with Costa's punching power.
"He caught me with a good shot, a good right hand, which I felt," he said.
"It's been a year now and we've both been developing as fighters, so it's going to be interesting to see the improvement on both sides."
Parker, who is 10th in the WBA rankings, rates Costa as his toughest opponent so far, not just for his power, but also for his height.
At 1.93cm, Parker will have just a one-centimetre advantage.
"The other guys I fought were much shorter, even though they were more experienced," he said
"So this will be a different experience for me, fighting someone my height and trying to adjust my punches to punch upwards instead of downwards."