12-27-2022, 03:10 PM
Joseph Parker Deep in Training For Must-Win Fight Against Massey
BY BOXINGSCENE STAFF
Published Mon Dec 26, 2022, 06:46 PM EST
Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker is training hard through the holidays, hoping to get his career back on track in 2023.
In his last fight, which took place a few months ago, Parker suffered his first knockout loss when he was stopped by Olympic silver medal winner Joe Joyce.
Parker will return to the ring on January 21 against Jack Massey, which takes place on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith undercard at the AO Arena in Manchester. The card will be carried by Sky Sports Box Office.
The New Zealand fighter trains with head coach Andy Lee at Tyson Fury's gym.
Parker realizes that his next fight is a do or die opportunity, with a loss to Massey potentially spelling the end of his career as a top fighter.
"A lot of people are saying 'why are you coming back to Morecambe when it's nice and sunny in New Zealand? Nice summer, you've got your family there, you've made some money and you've achieved some good things,'" Parker said to Sky Sports. "I'm just going to stay and focus. That's why I left my family, so I could put in the work.
"I was at home training but my wife said, 'You need to get a fight.' I was training with no purpose and she said, 'Get back over to England and train and fight again.' That's why I'm here, thanks to my wife! Me and Andy Lee trained this week but he has rightly gone back to spend Christmas with his young family. It's just me and this Christmas tree."
"Everyone here in Morecambe has been very accommodating. I have been invited to so many houses and people's gatherings but I don't want to get sick and I don't want to have any possibility of getting ill just before a fight so I want to do everything right and stay healthy. I just love boxing. I love the challenge. I think a lot of fighters, they love the challenge of boxing. It's not only the training it's the challenge of who's in front of you. You study, you pick them apart, you watch and you learn. I have everything I need. All I want to do is train and fight."
BY BOXINGSCENE STAFF
Published Mon Dec 26, 2022, 06:46 PM EST
Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker is training hard through the holidays, hoping to get his career back on track in 2023.
In his last fight, which took place a few months ago, Parker suffered his first knockout loss when he was stopped by Olympic silver medal winner Joe Joyce.
Parker will return to the ring on January 21 against Jack Massey, which takes place on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith undercard at the AO Arena in Manchester. The card will be carried by Sky Sports Box Office.
The New Zealand fighter trains with head coach Andy Lee at Tyson Fury's gym.
Parker realizes that his next fight is a do or die opportunity, with a loss to Massey potentially spelling the end of his career as a top fighter.
"A lot of people are saying 'why are you coming back to Morecambe when it's nice and sunny in New Zealand? Nice summer, you've got your family there, you've made some money and you've achieved some good things,'" Parker said to Sky Sports. "I'm just going to stay and focus. That's why I left my family, so I could put in the work.
"I was at home training but my wife said, 'You need to get a fight.' I was training with no purpose and she said, 'Get back over to England and train and fight again.' That's why I'm here, thanks to my wife! Me and Andy Lee trained this week but he has rightly gone back to spend Christmas with his young family. It's just me and this Christmas tree."
"Everyone here in Morecambe has been very accommodating. I have been invited to so many houses and people's gatherings but I don't want to get sick and I don't want to have any possibility of getting ill just before a fight so I want to do everything right and stay healthy. I just love boxing. I love the challenge. I think a lot of fighters, they love the challenge of boxing. It's not only the training it's the challenge of who's in front of you. You study, you pick them apart, you watch and you learn. I have everything I need. All I want to do is train and fight."