02-27-2020, 06:06 PM
Joseph Parker is a huge challenge but Shawndell Winters won't freeze
Duncan Johnstone
Growing up on the tough streets of Chicago prepared Winters for boxing.
Shawndell Winters' tough life has never presented a bigger opportunity than fighting Joseph Parker and he intends to make the absolute most of it.
The confident 39-year-old flew from a snow-bound Chicago to Texas to face former WBO heavyweight champion Parker in Frisco this weekend (2pm Sunday NZT).
His wife was with him and his two daughters were buzzing at being on a plane for the first time. Their five sons will join them to watch a fight that could be life-changing.
Joseph Parker and his opponent Shawndell Winters with British promoter Eddie Hearn in Texas.
It's his biggest stage and a huge step up in class but Winters promises he won't freeze. By the sounds of things, he's had tougher challenges.
"He's a good fighter, he's pretty durable, he's been tested, he's fought at the world class level for a bit, so that says a lot about him," the humble Winters said of Parker.
"But we have got to see who he is, in front of myself. Fighting is relative to life to me. I've fought tougher opponents in everyday life.
"Where I was born and raised, it's a tough place in the city."
Winters admits he ran with the wrong crowd on the gritty streets of Chicago for too long: "You find a lot of things if you're not focused and at the time I wasn't focused."
A concerned family member took him aside and persuaded him to take up boxing.
He was 29 and showed instant talent, good enough to go to the state Golden Gloves every year and made the United States twice, taking silver in 2014. The following year he turned professional at the age of 34.
He got on an eight-win tear and now has a 13-2 record, his most recent fights coming as he stepped up to heavyweight where he bowled over a couple of decent Polish prospects.
He has been fighting at around 95kg. Parker is likely to come in at 111kg but Winters shrugs off the difference.
Winters explained the transition to the heavyweight division was easy because his amateur training for 50 fights was always based around sparring much taller and heavier fighters. But, again, he's goes back to his life lessons to emphasise that.
"Coming up in Chicago, I was always the smallest guy that ran with the guys that I was with. But I never got bullied, I never took the short end of the stick and that says a lot about myself as well."
Joseph Parker will take a height advantage into his fight against American Shawndell Winters.
He played football as a child and took his basketball skills to college level but it's boxing where he's found his place, loving the solitude of the situation.
"Boxing is like the ultimate competitive sport. I used to get mad playing basketball because you'd get mad if another player didn't want it as much as you. When I got into boxing it was like perfect ... nobody else to blame, it's all you."
He's got a big heart and, apparently, a big punch with 12 victories coming via knockout. He also loves a challenge and the underdog tag.
"I do draw from the things I've experienced," he says of his boxing life. "Going into other territories, other people's back yards and taking a win out of the jaws of defeat. That's what I pride myself on. I work extremely hard.
The New Zealand heavyweight and trainer Kevin Barry taper preparations for Sunday's fight with Shawndell Winters.
"Nobody ever gave me anything, that's why I'm appreciative of this opportunity.
"I plan on making it cool for guys to take fights that they ain't supposed to win. Back in the early days of boxing the fight game was just about the best fighting the best. It wasn't about being protective, cherry-picking, none of that ... you just got in there and put your best against the other guy's best.
"In this sport if history has taught us anything it's that anybody can hit, anybody can get hurt and anybody can lose."
Duncan Johnstone flew to Texas with the help of Duco Boxing. Parker v Winters, 2pm Sunday, Sky Arena.
Duncan Johnstone
Growing up on the tough streets of Chicago prepared Winters for boxing.
Shawndell Winters' tough life has never presented a bigger opportunity than fighting Joseph Parker and he intends to make the absolute most of it.
The confident 39-year-old flew from a snow-bound Chicago to Texas to face former WBO heavyweight champion Parker in Frisco this weekend (2pm Sunday NZT).
His wife was with him and his two daughters were buzzing at being on a plane for the first time. Their five sons will join them to watch a fight that could be life-changing.
Joseph Parker and his opponent Shawndell Winters with British promoter Eddie Hearn in Texas.
It's his biggest stage and a huge step up in class but Winters promises he won't freeze. By the sounds of things, he's had tougher challenges.
"He's a good fighter, he's pretty durable, he's been tested, he's fought at the world class level for a bit, so that says a lot about him," the humble Winters said of Parker.
"But we have got to see who he is, in front of myself. Fighting is relative to life to me. I've fought tougher opponents in everyday life.
"Where I was born and raised, it's a tough place in the city."
Winters admits he ran with the wrong crowd on the gritty streets of Chicago for too long: "You find a lot of things if you're not focused and at the time I wasn't focused."
A concerned family member took him aside and persuaded him to take up boxing.
He was 29 and showed instant talent, good enough to go to the state Golden Gloves every year and made the United States twice, taking silver in 2014. The following year he turned professional at the age of 34.
He got on an eight-win tear and now has a 13-2 record, his most recent fights coming as he stepped up to heavyweight where he bowled over a couple of decent Polish prospects.
He has been fighting at around 95kg. Parker is likely to come in at 111kg but Winters shrugs off the difference.
Winters explained the transition to the heavyweight division was easy because his amateur training for 50 fights was always based around sparring much taller and heavier fighters. But, again, he's goes back to his life lessons to emphasise that.
"Coming up in Chicago, I was always the smallest guy that ran with the guys that I was with. But I never got bullied, I never took the short end of the stick and that says a lot about myself as well."
Joseph Parker will take a height advantage into his fight against American Shawndell Winters.
He played football as a child and took his basketball skills to college level but it's boxing where he's found his place, loving the solitude of the situation.
"Boxing is like the ultimate competitive sport. I used to get mad playing basketball because you'd get mad if another player didn't want it as much as you. When I got into boxing it was like perfect ... nobody else to blame, it's all you."
He's got a big heart and, apparently, a big punch with 12 victories coming via knockout. He also loves a challenge and the underdog tag.
"I do draw from the things I've experienced," he says of his boxing life. "Going into other territories, other people's back yards and taking a win out of the jaws of defeat. That's what I pride myself on. I work extremely hard.
The New Zealand heavyweight and trainer Kevin Barry taper preparations for Sunday's fight with Shawndell Winters.
"Nobody ever gave me anything, that's why I'm appreciative of this opportunity.
"I plan on making it cool for guys to take fights that they ain't supposed to win. Back in the early days of boxing the fight game was just about the best fighting the best. It wasn't about being protective, cherry-picking, none of that ... you just got in there and put your best against the other guy's best.
"In this sport if history has taught us anything it's that anybody can hit, anybody can get hurt and anybody can lose."
Duncan Johnstone flew to Texas with the help of Duco Boxing. Parker v Winters, 2pm Sunday, Sky Arena.