10-04-2018, 10:02 AM
Former world champion heavyweight Joseph Parker's next fight will be in Christchurch on December 15.
His opponent is yet to be confirmed but the Herald understands it definitely won't be Australian Lucas Browne, who recently stopped the New Zealand-based American Julius Long on the Gold Coast. There is no prospect of Parker and Browne fighting any time soon or possibly at all.
It won't be fellow Kiwi heavyweight Junior Fa, either, although the Aucklander, undefeated over 15 professional fights, will feature in the main undercard bout against an unconfirmed opponent.
Indeed, the name of Parker's opponent at the Horncastle Arena probably won't be recognisable to even boxing aficionados in this country as the New Zealand-Samoan starts his way back to the top after consecutive losses to Brits Anthony Joshua in Cardiff and Dillian Whyte in London.
The bout is designed to give Parker some rounds before he launches his comeback proper next year. A good win — and he will be disappointed to not get a stoppage — could put him within reach of a rematch with Whyte or perhaps a fight against fellow Englishman Dereck Chisora.
"Whoever they put in front of me I need to get the job done — and get it done well," said Parker, who hasn't stopped an opponent since Alexander Dimitrenko in Auckland in October, 2016.
"Having experienced what it is like to reach the pinnacle of the sport, and then come back down again after a couple of tough defeats, I'm more motivated than ever to get back on top," he said.
The fight will be Parker's first in New Zealand in 18 months, a welcome return to home soil after three tough fights in Britain, the first of which was a majority decision victory against Hughie Fury in Manchester.
The result of the Whyte fight, a unanimous decision defeat, was especially difficult to endure because of the head clash — not ruled as such by the referee — which floored Parker in the second round.
Parker was also knocked down in the ninth round, before mounting a dramatic comeback which culminated in him knocking down Whyte in the 12th and final round.
His opponent is yet to be confirmed but the Herald understands it definitely won't be Australian Lucas Browne, who recently stopped the New Zealand-based American Julius Long on the Gold Coast. There is no prospect of Parker and Browne fighting any time soon or possibly at all.
It won't be fellow Kiwi heavyweight Junior Fa, either, although the Aucklander, undefeated over 15 professional fights, will feature in the main undercard bout against an unconfirmed opponent.
Indeed, the name of Parker's opponent at the Horncastle Arena probably won't be recognisable to even boxing aficionados in this country as the New Zealand-Samoan starts his way back to the top after consecutive losses to Brits Anthony Joshua in Cardiff and Dillian Whyte in London.
The bout is designed to give Parker some rounds before he launches his comeback proper next year. A good win — and he will be disappointed to not get a stoppage — could put him within reach of a rematch with Whyte or perhaps a fight against fellow Englishman Dereck Chisora.
"Whoever they put in front of me I need to get the job done — and get it done well," said Parker, who hasn't stopped an opponent since Alexander Dimitrenko in Auckland in October, 2016.
"Having experienced what it is like to reach the pinnacle of the sport, and then come back down again after a couple of tough defeats, I'm more motivated than ever to get back on top," he said.
The fight will be Parker's first in New Zealand in 18 months, a welcome return to home soil after three tough fights in Britain, the first of which was a majority decision victory against Hughie Fury in Manchester.
The result of the Whyte fight, a unanimous decision defeat, was especially difficult to endure because of the head clash — not ruled as such by the referee — which floored Parker in the second round.
Parker was also knocked down in the ninth round, before mounting a dramatic comeback which culminated in him knocking down Whyte in the 12th and final round.