09-14-2017, 10:41 PM
JOSEPH PARKER has vowed to unleash his secret sparring techniques to knock Hughie Fury out when the two go head to head for the WBO title in Manchester next week.
By BOBBY HELLARD
PUBLISHED: 00:01, Thu, Sep 14, 2017 | UPDATED: 00:31, Thu, Sep 14, 2017
Joseph Parker takes on Hughie Fury in Manchester
The current champion has been training at David Haye’s south London gym, where he took part in a public training session on Monday.
The next day however, the doors were closed to the public as he worked on new techniques during a sparring session that he hopes to use on fight night.
Parker goes into the bout with an unbeaten record (23-0-18) and will look to bring a few surprises to the ring when he takes on number one contender Fury.
The 25-year-old Kiwi said: “Yesterday [Monday] we did a public session where people could come and see us train, sort of watch us on the pads, on the bag, skipping and that sort of thing but today we did a good six rounds of sparring.
“With sparring, no one’s allowed to come and watch us because we are working on different techniques and skills that we want to show on fight night, so it’s going to be a surprise. I’m going to be putting on that pressure.
“I’ve trained hard and when I train hard, I’m going to win. I’m going to knock someone out.”
Parker won the WBO belt in December with a narrow points victory over John Ruiz in his home town of Aukland, New Zealand and has also defended his title once with a unanimous decision against Razvan Cojanu.
Despite receiving criticism for his last two outings, Parker has impressed his host, former WBA Champion Haye, who believes the Kiwi could set up a unification fight with victory in Manchester.
“He’s trimmed up, clearly he’s been eating, sleeping and training and not much else,” said Haye.
“I know what it takes to whip yourself into great condition and he’s obviously been living the life and is a completely different human being than the one who was here 10 weeks ago.
“A win against Hughie Fury in the UK, in Manchester, will be absolutely huge for Joseph Parker and his brand. It really would put his name up there in lights and it would really get the British media calling for unification fights.
“He’s a bit of an unknown, although he’s the champion, he hasn’t sort of been on these shores. He’s popped over from time to time and teased us, but to come over here and show us what he’s got with a spectacular win, that would really put his name up in lights and it would really call for one of the big unification fights with Deontay Wilder or Anthony Joshua.“
Despite the prediction of a big future, Haye also urged Parker to be patient when fighting the ‘awkward’ Fury, who also has an unbeaten record (20-0-10).
“Hughie Fury’s got a very awkward style,” added Haye.
“He has a very under-rated defence and it could sort of pose Joe a few tricks early-doors until he gets to grips with things so it’s all about patience, all about him not getting frustrated in the heat of the battle and keeping a cool head, that’s the best advice I can give.”
By BOBBY HELLARD
PUBLISHED: 00:01, Thu, Sep 14, 2017 | UPDATED: 00:31, Thu, Sep 14, 2017
Joseph Parker takes on Hughie Fury in Manchester
The current champion has been training at David Haye’s south London gym, where he took part in a public training session on Monday.
The next day however, the doors were closed to the public as he worked on new techniques during a sparring session that he hopes to use on fight night.
Parker goes into the bout with an unbeaten record (23-0-18) and will look to bring a few surprises to the ring when he takes on number one contender Fury.
The 25-year-old Kiwi said: “Yesterday [Monday] we did a public session where people could come and see us train, sort of watch us on the pads, on the bag, skipping and that sort of thing but today we did a good six rounds of sparring.
“With sparring, no one’s allowed to come and watch us because we are working on different techniques and skills that we want to show on fight night, so it’s going to be a surprise. I’m going to be putting on that pressure.
“I’ve trained hard and when I train hard, I’m going to win. I’m going to knock someone out.”
Parker won the WBO belt in December with a narrow points victory over John Ruiz in his home town of Aukland, New Zealand and has also defended his title once with a unanimous decision against Razvan Cojanu.
Despite receiving criticism for his last two outings, Parker has impressed his host, former WBA Champion Haye, who believes the Kiwi could set up a unification fight with victory in Manchester.
“He’s trimmed up, clearly he’s been eating, sleeping and training and not much else,” said Haye.
“I know what it takes to whip yourself into great condition and he’s obviously been living the life and is a completely different human being than the one who was here 10 weeks ago.
“A win against Hughie Fury in the UK, in Manchester, will be absolutely huge for Joseph Parker and his brand. It really would put his name up there in lights and it would really get the British media calling for unification fights.
“He’s a bit of an unknown, although he’s the champion, he hasn’t sort of been on these shores. He’s popped over from time to time and teased us, but to come over here and show us what he’s got with a spectacular win, that would really put his name up in lights and it would really call for one of the big unification fights with Deontay Wilder or Anthony Joshua.“
Despite the prediction of a big future, Haye also urged Parker to be patient when fighting the ‘awkward’ Fury, who also has an unbeaten record (20-0-10).
“Hughie Fury’s got a very awkward style,” added Haye.
“He has a very under-rated defence and it could sort of pose Joe a few tricks early-doors until he gets to grips with things so it’s all about patience, all about him not getting frustrated in the heat of the battle and keeping a cool head, that’s the best advice I can give.”