05-18-2020, 01:35 PM
Joseph Parker's biggest regret from loss to Anthony Joshua
10:48, May 18 2020
Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker has arrived in considerably better shape for his more recent Las Vegas training camps with trainer Kevin Barry.
Joseph Parker has opened up on his biggest regret from his world heavyweight unification loss to Anthony Joshua, admitting he let himself down with his preparation.
WBO champion Parker lost his belt to WBA and IBF champion Joshua on points in Cardiff in 2018.
It was Parker’s first loss though he had the honour of being the first fighter to take Joshua the distance.
There were lengthy negotiations to make the fight and Parker had secret surgery to both elbows while those arrangements were taking place.
Parker told a new podcast series on New Zealand boxing by Logan Savory called The Boxing Files, that while he and trainer Kevin Barry had done some good strategy work at their Las Vegas camp, too much time had been spent on actual fitness. That, said Parker, was his fault.
“When I look at things outside of the training camp, and outside of the fight, I should have went into camp at a better weight. I was in New Zealand relaxed and having a good time,’’ Parker told The Boxing Files podcast.
‘I’d had elbow surgery, so I wasn’t taking training to seriously. I went into camp at 123kgs, and I needed to come down to 107kgs, so the body is going through this big stress.
“I should have gone into camp at a better weight and started off healthier and a lot more in shape. Where is I went into camp to lose weight and get into shape. I should have been using it as a way to work on technique and skills to get better.’’
Parker had a frustrating night in the ring in Cardiff in front of 80,000 fans as a wary Joshua refused to engage in any brawls, helped by a referee who didn’t allow Parker to get in close to try to attack.
Parker praised Joshua for changing tactics, much the way the big Brit did to win back his titles from Andy Ruiz Jr last December.
“He boxed better than I thought. When I watched his previous fights he came out and chased you down, and he liked to brawl and fight. Where in this fight he adapted and changed, and he was able to box a bit better than I thought he was able to box," Parker told The Boxing Files.
Parker, 28, remains highly relevant to the heated division and would like nothing more than a chance to get revenge over Joshua. He is also desperate to fight another British heavyweight, Dillian Whyte, who also beat the Kiwi on a points decision, just four months later in London.
Parker has recovered from those back-to-back losses to put together three consecutive wins.
A more mature Parker says he now has a far better training attitude and has found ways to stay fit and motivated while in New Zealand ahead of linking up with Barry in Las Vegas.
“Along the way I’ve made a lot of mistakes, I’ve had failures, but I want to fight those guys I’ve lost to, I want to fight Anthony Joshua, I want to fight Dillian Whyte, and I believe if I do fight them again and I do everything right and actually go into camp at a better weight and use what I’ve learned from those first two fights I can do a lot better and I can beat them.’’
Negotiations are currently under way for Parker to fight in New Zealand in August, taking advantage of New Zealand’s early exit from the coronavirus lockdown.
No opponent has been confirmed though Australians Lucas Browne or Demsey McKean are likely as the fight looks to exploit a possible transTasman bubble as restrictions ease.
Stuff
10:48, May 18 2020
Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker has arrived in considerably better shape for his more recent Las Vegas training camps with trainer Kevin Barry.
Joseph Parker has opened up on his biggest regret from his world heavyweight unification loss to Anthony Joshua, admitting he let himself down with his preparation.
WBO champion Parker lost his belt to WBA and IBF champion Joshua on points in Cardiff in 2018.
It was Parker’s first loss though he had the honour of being the first fighter to take Joshua the distance.
There were lengthy negotiations to make the fight and Parker had secret surgery to both elbows while those arrangements were taking place.
Parker told a new podcast series on New Zealand boxing by Logan Savory called The Boxing Files, that while he and trainer Kevin Barry had done some good strategy work at their Las Vegas camp, too much time had been spent on actual fitness. That, said Parker, was his fault.
“When I look at things outside of the training camp, and outside of the fight, I should have went into camp at a better weight. I was in New Zealand relaxed and having a good time,’’ Parker told The Boxing Files podcast.
‘I’d had elbow surgery, so I wasn’t taking training to seriously. I went into camp at 123kgs, and I needed to come down to 107kgs, so the body is going through this big stress.
“I should have gone into camp at a better weight and started off healthier and a lot more in shape. Where is I went into camp to lose weight and get into shape. I should have been using it as a way to work on technique and skills to get better.’’
Parker had a frustrating night in the ring in Cardiff in front of 80,000 fans as a wary Joshua refused to engage in any brawls, helped by a referee who didn’t allow Parker to get in close to try to attack.
Parker praised Joshua for changing tactics, much the way the big Brit did to win back his titles from Andy Ruiz Jr last December.
“He boxed better than I thought. When I watched his previous fights he came out and chased you down, and he liked to brawl and fight. Where in this fight he adapted and changed, and he was able to box a bit better than I thought he was able to box," Parker told The Boxing Files.
Parker, 28, remains highly relevant to the heated division and would like nothing more than a chance to get revenge over Joshua. He is also desperate to fight another British heavyweight, Dillian Whyte, who also beat the Kiwi on a points decision, just four months later in London.
Parker has recovered from those back-to-back losses to put together three consecutive wins.
A more mature Parker says he now has a far better training attitude and has found ways to stay fit and motivated while in New Zealand ahead of linking up with Barry in Las Vegas.
“Along the way I’ve made a lot of mistakes, I’ve had failures, but I want to fight those guys I’ve lost to, I want to fight Anthony Joshua, I want to fight Dillian Whyte, and I believe if I do fight them again and I do everything right and actually go into camp at a better weight and use what I’ve learned from those first two fights I can do a lot better and I can beat them.’’
Negotiations are currently under way for Parker to fight in New Zealand in August, taking advantage of New Zealand’s early exit from the coronavirus lockdown.
No opponent has been confirmed though Australians Lucas Browne or Demsey McKean are likely as the fight looks to exploit a possible transTasman bubble as restrictions ease.
Stuff