Stuff.co.nz:
Japanese fighter Kyotaro Fujimoto 'has run scared' of Joseph Parker
Last updated 05:00 22/06/2015
LOGAN SAVORY
Dean Lonergan has labelled Kyotaro Fujimoto "gutless" and "a coward" following the Japanese heavyweight boxer's withdrawal from a scheduled fight with Joseph Parker in Invercargill.
Parker's promoters Duco Events had agreed to terms and conditions with Fujimoto for him to fight Parker on August 1.
However, soon after Parker knocked out German Yakup Saglam in Palmerston North, Fujimoto contacted Duco and advised them he no longer wanted to take the fight on.
Lonergan said no reason was given and he could only presume Fujimoto had "run scared".
"What's become apparent to us is that he watched the Yakup Saglam fight, where Joseph knocked the guy out in a bit over one round, and all of a sudden they have had a change of heart. It just shows Fujimoto and his camp are totally gutless," he said.
"I've never been through it before, and we have signed a lot of fighters. He has just moved up to 15 in the world [in the WBC] and what it says is a lot of people are just flat out scared of Joseph Parker.
"He could have asked for a bit more money but there was none of that, he just didn't want to fight.
"What it means is when Joseph Parker wins the heavyweight title of the world, we are going to go to Tokyo and we are going to call Kyotara Fujimoto out and knock him out in two rounds in his home town. He is gutless."
The Japanese fighter's withdrawal has left Duco scrambling to find another opponent to fight Parker in Invercargill.
Lonergan said they were close to announcing a new opponent and felt they would end up with a better fight.
"I can promise you Invercargill will end up with a better fight," Lonergan said. "Out of adversity comes opportunity. Fortunately we have been talking to a number of different fighters lately, so we've managed to flush out a whole lot of fighters, and we are really excited by the next guy.
"What I can tell you is this, he is the most imposing guy Joseph Parker will have fought. He is raked higher than Fujimoto in one of the organisations, so he is top 15 in the world. He is someone that can really assist us if we take out the win."
Fujimoto was originally seen as an ideal fight for Parker. It was unlikely the Kiwi would have had any problems beating the Japanese fighter, but it could have moved him into the top 15 in the World Boxing Council rankings.
Duco have made no secret they want to position Parker for an eventual shot at WBC champion Deontay Wilder. Fijimoto's withdrawal has torn up that blue print, but Lonergan said a win over a new opponent would still help move Parker up the rankings.
Japanese fighter Kyotaro Fujimoto 'has run scared' of Joseph Parker
Last updated 05:00 22/06/2015
LOGAN SAVORY
Dean Lonergan has labelled Kyotaro Fujimoto "gutless" and "a coward" following the Japanese heavyweight boxer's withdrawal from a scheduled fight with Joseph Parker in Invercargill.
Parker's promoters Duco Events had agreed to terms and conditions with Fujimoto for him to fight Parker on August 1.
However, soon after Parker knocked out German Yakup Saglam in Palmerston North, Fujimoto contacted Duco and advised them he no longer wanted to take the fight on.
Lonergan said no reason was given and he could only presume Fujimoto had "run scared".
"What's become apparent to us is that he watched the Yakup Saglam fight, where Joseph knocked the guy out in a bit over one round, and all of a sudden they have had a change of heart. It just shows Fujimoto and his camp are totally gutless," he said.
"I've never been through it before, and we have signed a lot of fighters. He has just moved up to 15 in the world [in the WBC] and what it says is a lot of people are just flat out scared of Joseph Parker.
"He could have asked for a bit more money but there was none of that, he just didn't want to fight.
"What it means is when Joseph Parker wins the heavyweight title of the world, we are going to go to Tokyo and we are going to call Kyotara Fujimoto out and knock him out in two rounds in his home town. He is gutless."
The Japanese fighter's withdrawal has left Duco scrambling to find another opponent to fight Parker in Invercargill.
Lonergan said they were close to announcing a new opponent and felt they would end up with a better fight.
"I can promise you Invercargill will end up with a better fight," Lonergan said. "Out of adversity comes opportunity. Fortunately we have been talking to a number of different fighters lately, so we've managed to flush out a whole lot of fighters, and we are really excited by the next guy.
"What I can tell you is this, he is the most imposing guy Joseph Parker will have fought. He is raked higher than Fujimoto in one of the organisations, so he is top 15 in the world. He is someone that can really assist us if we take out the win."
Fujimoto was originally seen as an ideal fight for Parker. It was unlikely the Kiwi would have had any problems beating the Japanese fighter, but it could have moved him into the top 15 in the World Boxing Council rankings.
Duco have made no secret they want to position Parker for an eventual shot at WBC champion Deontay Wilder. Fijimoto's withdrawal has torn up that blue print, but Lonergan said a win over a new opponent would still help move Parker up the rankings.