07-29-2015, 10:08 PM
Joseph Parker trainer Kevin Barry comfortable with small town approach for boxer
Joseph Parker, Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua are regarded the future of heavyweight boxing.
While Wilder and Joshua are currently showcasing their skills in places like Las Vegas and London, Parker is preparing for his 15th professional fight in Invercargill - a city of just 50,000.
Parker's trainer Kevin Barry has no problems with the small town approach, however. The Kiwi heavyweight's last fight was in Palmerston North in June and is now eyeing New Zealand's highest-ever ranked bout against Australian Bowie Tupou on Saturday night.
"This fight is being shown live on ESPN, so it is great. It doesn't really matter where the fight is, it is about the event that is staged, this is going to be a great event," Barry said.
"This will probably be the biggest crowd so far in Joe's career, so it was important we had a decent fight, it was important we brought a good fight to Invercargill, and this fight has more meaning than any other fight in his career. There is a lot at stake."
READ MORE: Tupou fighting for his career down south
Barry said the enthusiasm in Palmerston North was special and he was expecting the same type of atmosphere in Invercargill.
"We had a tremendous response in Palmerston North, the crowd reaction there was bigger than anything we had before. I remember saying to Joe that night in the dressing room, 'you wait until we go to Invercargill, it's going to be even bigger down there.
"Joe and I are pumped to be here in Invercargill. When we started coming [to Invercargill], we talked many times with Dean [Lonergan] and David [Higgins] from Duco about the possibility of bringing a fight to Invercargill. So when it was actually sorted out, with the logistics and business, and we knew we were coming, we were very pleased."
Barry said the plan was to fight in Auckland and Hamilton in October and December before a historic fight in Samoa in January. Parker's trainer would like one further fight in New Zealand before then starting a campaign in the United States.
"Because of the international media coverage Joe is getting Dean and Dave were in New York last week meeting with ESPN, Showtime and HBO - there is a lot interest from HBO and Showtime in staging Joe in America - so we will definitely be fighting in America next year, whether it is the beginning of the year or the middle of the year I don't know," he said.
The target it seems for Team Parker is American Deontay Wilder, who is the current WBC champion.
"For me a far better path is Wilder rather than targeting [Wladimir] Klitschko. I like the possibility of us some time down the track - if Deontay Wilder is still wearing the bout - fighting him. There is a lot of things about his style that I think Joe measures up really well with."
- Stuff
Joseph Parker, Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua are regarded the future of heavyweight boxing.
While Wilder and Joshua are currently showcasing their skills in places like Las Vegas and London, Parker is preparing for his 15th professional fight in Invercargill - a city of just 50,000.
Parker's trainer Kevin Barry has no problems with the small town approach, however. The Kiwi heavyweight's last fight was in Palmerston North in June and is now eyeing New Zealand's highest-ever ranked bout against Australian Bowie Tupou on Saturday night.
"This fight is being shown live on ESPN, so it is great. It doesn't really matter where the fight is, it is about the event that is staged, this is going to be a great event," Barry said.
"This will probably be the biggest crowd so far in Joe's career, so it was important we had a decent fight, it was important we brought a good fight to Invercargill, and this fight has more meaning than any other fight in his career. There is a lot at stake."
READ MORE: Tupou fighting for his career down south
Barry said the enthusiasm in Palmerston North was special and he was expecting the same type of atmosphere in Invercargill.
"We had a tremendous response in Palmerston North, the crowd reaction there was bigger than anything we had before. I remember saying to Joe that night in the dressing room, 'you wait until we go to Invercargill, it's going to be even bigger down there.
"Joe and I are pumped to be here in Invercargill. When we started coming [to Invercargill], we talked many times with Dean [Lonergan] and David [Higgins] from Duco about the possibility of bringing a fight to Invercargill. So when it was actually sorted out, with the logistics and business, and we knew we were coming, we were very pleased."
Barry said the plan was to fight in Auckland and Hamilton in October and December before a historic fight in Samoa in January. Parker's trainer would like one further fight in New Zealand before then starting a campaign in the United States.
"Because of the international media coverage Joe is getting Dean and Dave were in New York last week meeting with ESPN, Showtime and HBO - there is a lot interest from HBO and Showtime in staging Joe in America - so we will definitely be fighting in America next year, whether it is the beginning of the year or the middle of the year I don't know," he said.
The target it seems for Team Parker is American Deontay Wilder, who is the current WBC champion.
"For me a far better path is Wilder rather than targeting [Wladimir] Klitschko. I like the possibility of us some time down the track - if Deontay Wilder is still wearing the bout - fighting him. There is a lot of things about his style that I think Joe measures up really well with."
- Stuff