07-11-2018, 05:26 PM
Suspended boxer Eric Molina sparring with Joseph Parker
Heavyweights Dillian Whyte and Joseph Parker will clash in London later this month.
Joseph Parker has turned to a boxer suspended for a doping violation to help him prepare for an upcoming fight with British heavyweight Dillian Whyte.
Parker, who is looking to bounce back from the first loss of his professional career, which came against Anthony Joshua earlier this year, is using Eric Molina, who is serving a two-year ban for doping, as his sparring partner.
The 36-year-old Texan tested positive for dexamethasone, a corticosteroid that is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency for in-competition use, in a routine test after his own fight with Joshua, back in 2016. His suspension ends in October 2019.
Parker told Sky Sports that Molina is being used to replicate Whyte's style.
"There's a couple of things that we've been working on in the last two days," Parker said. "There's a couple of things which happened that I would like to see improved on. For this Dillian Whyte fight, obviously he's got a very aggressive come-forward style. He likes to engage."
"That's what we sort of look at, fighters that have a lot of similarities to what he brings. I think the guys that we have now are good and there's more guys coming in, and hopefully give us the best work they have."
Molina said he has been impressed by Parker so far.
"Very strong, he's got a granite chin and moves very well. He's got very, very unique attributes for a heavyweight and he moves well," Molina said.
"I'm glad to be here and help him out in any way I can. I see him right smack in the mix. He's very unique his style and very hard to duplicate the style that he brings. I wish him the best."
Whyte himself has previously served a two-year suspension for doping.
Heavyweights Dillian Whyte and Joseph Parker will clash in London later this month.
Joseph Parker has turned to a boxer suspended for a doping violation to help him prepare for an upcoming fight with British heavyweight Dillian Whyte.
Parker, who is looking to bounce back from the first loss of his professional career, which came against Anthony Joshua earlier this year, is using Eric Molina, who is serving a two-year ban for doping, as his sparring partner.
The 36-year-old Texan tested positive for dexamethasone, a corticosteroid that is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency for in-competition use, in a routine test after his own fight with Joshua, back in 2016. His suspension ends in October 2019.
Parker told Sky Sports that Molina is being used to replicate Whyte's style.
"There's a couple of things that we've been working on in the last two days," Parker said. "There's a couple of things which happened that I would like to see improved on. For this Dillian Whyte fight, obviously he's got a very aggressive come-forward style. He likes to engage."
"That's what we sort of look at, fighters that have a lot of similarities to what he brings. I think the guys that we have now are good and there's more guys coming in, and hopefully give us the best work they have."
Molina said he has been impressed by Parker so far.
"Very strong, he's got a granite chin and moves very well. He's got very, very unique attributes for a heavyweight and he moves well," Molina said.
"I'm glad to be here and help him out in any way I can. I see him right smack in the mix. He's very unique his style and very hard to duplicate the style that he brings. I wish him the best."
Whyte himself has previously served a two-year suspension for doping.