09-11-2017, 11:03 AM
Joseph Parker labels Hughie Fury fight 'make or break' for his big UK plans
WBO heavyweight boxing champion Joseph Parker wants a dominant performance over Hughie Fury to boost his British profile.
Joseph Parker has labelled his WBO world heavyweight title defence against Hughie Fury "make of break" for his ambitious plans in the UK.
Parker and Fury clash in Manchester on September 24 (NZT) in the Kiwi star's British debut.
Desperate to make an impact in the hyped heavyweight market there, Parker knows a win will set up lucrative clashes while a loss will be a disaster.
"This is pretty much a make or break fight. You win this fight and it's on to bigger fights but if you lose you have to start again so I am just focused on this. Hopefully I get it done and then I can move forward," Parker told Boxing Scene.
Parker's American co-promoters at Top Rank have signed a four-year deal with US broadcasting giant ESPN that will include 18 events in 2018.
Parker hopes to get the chance to fight on one of those cards to lift his American profile, but it's Britain where he is desperate to make an impact because that's where the division's biggest names are lurking.
"My full focus is on Fury. If everything goes well and if we stay undefeated I am sure I will be back at the end of the year," Parker, who is 23-0 with 18 KOs, said.
At 25, it's a pivotal phase for Parker's career. He can make a big move with an impressive win against Fury. He's young enough to recover from what would be an unexpected loss but that rebuild would take costly time.
Parker has arrived in London to fine tune his preparations. He will be in the capital for 10 days before transferring north to Manchester in the middle of next week.
Parker's arrival on British soil from his Las Vegas base was greeted by some fighting words from Fury, the 22-year-old who has fashioned a 20-0 win with 10 KOs and feels he is finally physically right after battling a skin disease for the bulk of his career.
"If he's overlooking me it will be the worst thing he's ever done in his life," Fury told Sky Sports.
Fury was quick to defend the calibre of opponents he has faced, a list that pales in comparison to the fighters Parker has had to get past, particularly over the last couple of years.
"We've both fought good people. The list of my opponents - people didn't want to fight them. They were avoided because they make people look bad. They were awkward. The people [Parker] has fought were easier fights," Fury countered.
"I fought Andriy Rudenko who, at the time, had only lost to Lucas Browne. I had just turned 20-years-old and he'd lost only one out of 26 fights. He was a good opponent.
"I've learned my job inside the ring, in sparring and in the great camps that I've been in. People don't see what I've achieved since such a young age because I'm not a big talker.
"I've never been in the ring at 100 per cent, but now I can show what I can actually do. That is all behind me and I'm ready to move forward.
"He's never fought anyone like me. Especially in heavyweight boxing, it only takes one punch. I will knock him out."
Fury has also ripped into Parker and his bosses at Duco Events over questioning the Manchester promotion that is struggling to get traction with poor ticket sales.
Fury labelled Parker a "chump" in an attack on Twitter on Monday.
Show some respect #Chump
WBO heavyweight boxing champion Joseph Parker wants a dominant performance over Hughie Fury to boost his British profile.
Joseph Parker has labelled his WBO world heavyweight title defence against Hughie Fury "make of break" for his ambitious plans in the UK.
Parker and Fury clash in Manchester on September 24 (NZT) in the Kiwi star's British debut.
Desperate to make an impact in the hyped heavyweight market there, Parker knows a win will set up lucrative clashes while a loss will be a disaster.
"This is pretty much a make or break fight. You win this fight and it's on to bigger fights but if you lose you have to start again so I am just focused on this. Hopefully I get it done and then I can move forward," Parker told Boxing Scene.
Parker's American co-promoters at Top Rank have signed a four-year deal with US broadcasting giant ESPN that will include 18 events in 2018.
Parker hopes to get the chance to fight on one of those cards to lift his American profile, but it's Britain where he is desperate to make an impact because that's where the division's biggest names are lurking.
"My full focus is on Fury. If everything goes well and if we stay undefeated I am sure I will be back at the end of the year," Parker, who is 23-0 with 18 KOs, said.
At 25, it's a pivotal phase for Parker's career. He can make a big move with an impressive win against Fury. He's young enough to recover from what would be an unexpected loss but that rebuild would take costly time.
Parker has arrived in London to fine tune his preparations. He will be in the capital for 10 days before transferring north to Manchester in the middle of next week.
Parker's arrival on British soil from his Las Vegas base was greeted by some fighting words from Fury, the 22-year-old who has fashioned a 20-0 win with 10 KOs and feels he is finally physically right after battling a skin disease for the bulk of his career.
"If he's overlooking me it will be the worst thing he's ever done in his life," Fury told Sky Sports.
Fury was quick to defend the calibre of opponents he has faced, a list that pales in comparison to the fighters Parker has had to get past, particularly over the last couple of years.
"We've both fought good people. The list of my opponents - people didn't want to fight them. They were avoided because they make people look bad. They were awkward. The people [Parker] has fought were easier fights," Fury countered.
"I fought Andriy Rudenko who, at the time, had only lost to Lucas Browne. I had just turned 20-years-old and he'd lost only one out of 26 fights. He was a good opponent.
"I've learned my job inside the ring, in sparring and in the great camps that I've been in. People don't see what I've achieved since such a young age because I'm not a big talker.
"I've never been in the ring at 100 per cent, but now I can show what I can actually do. That is all behind me and I'm ready to move forward.
"He's never fought anyone like me. Especially in heavyweight boxing, it only takes one punch. I will knock him out."
Fury has also ripped into Parker and his bosses at Duco Events over questioning the Manchester promotion that is struggling to get traction with poor ticket sales.
Fury labelled Parker a "chump" in an attack on Twitter on Monday.
Show some respect #Chump