Joseph Parker

[diehard]

https://www.badlefthook.com/2023/4/26/23699035/joseph-parker-vs-faiga-opelu-headlines-may-24-ppv-melbourne-boxing-news-2023

[diehard]

Joseph Parker: I Believe I Can Win Another World Title, I Need To Keep Winning
BY BOXINGSCENE STAFF
Published Mon May 01, 2023, 06:03 PM EDT

Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker is expected current WBC champion Tyson Fury to support him at ringside later this month.

On May 24, Parker will be headlining a card in Melbourne, Australia.

The fight card will feature unbeaten prospect Nikita Tszyu and the professional heavyweight debut of AFL star Cameron Mooney.

Parker will take on Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu for the Commonwealth heavyweight title.

Fury is slated to return to the ring on July 22. No opponent has been finalized and the date is still tentative.

Unless something comes up, Parker believes Fury will be at his side.

“I spoke to [Fury] last week and he said he is going to make the trip down,” Parker said to Fox Sports.

“If he locks in a fight that might be different, but he’s said he is going to come down to support me, support the event and meet a lot of his fans in Australia.”

At this stage of his career, Parker is still rebuilding himself after suffering a knockout loss at the hands of Joe Joyce in 2022.

Parker was able to bounce back in January with a decision win over Jack Massey.

The veteran believes that he can still achieve his goal of capturing another world title.

“The Commonwealth heavyweight title has been held by some of the biggest names in the sport. And I’m looking forward to adding my name to that list. He [Opelu] is a great fighter and deserves his shot, but there are levels to this game and I plan to show that. I’m not taking this lightly and I look forward to putting on a great performance for the fight fans," Parker said.

“I believe I can win another world heavyweight title. It just takes time. I just need to keep winning. I can’t afford to lose.”

[bart]

I think what will be interesting is what weight will JP come in at?
Hopefully Lee has discovered that a heavy JP is not playing to his strengths and just doesn't work for him like it can for Fury.
Come in lower 240's and get that handspeed and workrate going- if he slow and ponderous Django has a chance

[diehard]

I'm assuming JP will train in the UK and then come over to OZ? Is he in the UK now? Not too far away to fight night...

[bart]

think mainly in Ireland with Lee
Might be wrong but seems that way

[diehard]

(05-08-2023, 11:51 AM)bart Wrote: I think what will be interesting is what weight will JP come in at?
Hopefully Lee has discovered that a heavy JP is not playing to his strengths and just doesn't work for him like it can for Fury.
Come in lower 240's and get that handspeed and workrate going- if he slow and ponderous Django has a chance

Some of that is on JP as he's admitted in the past that he's cheated with sweets. We'll see how bad he wants to get back to the top.

[Beefstew]

(05-08-2023, 07:22 PM)diehard Wrote:

(05-08-2023, 11:51 AM)bart Wrote: I think what will be interesting is what weight will JP come in at?
Hopefully Lee has discovered that a heavy JP is not playing to his strengths and just doesn't work for him like it can for Fury.
Come in lower 240's and get that handspeed and workrate going- if he slow and ponderous Django has a chance

Some of that is on JP as he's admitted in the past that he's cheated with sweets.  We'll see how bad he wants to get back to the top.

Hes looking in good shape on social media. Leaner than his last two fights. I always thought his condition for the Joshua fight was the best ive seen him. Not sure why they continue to try and turn him into a puncher.

Shame to see the Mckean fight fall through. Higgins was adamant in Feb that was the opponent. 

[diehard]

Very quiet in here, so thanks Beefstew for getting us going again. Yeah, a victory over McKean, who's nothing, would have him knocking on the door again.

I'll check his social media page to see.

[bart]

It's true beef he looks toned on socials but I remember before JJ fight his socials/ video he looked fit and conditioned then turned up flabby. I hear he got sick but to come in that heavy and slow was a shock.
Let's hope Lee and the team have changed focus and gone back to working on JPs strengths ...his hand speed and combos rather than looking for ko

[diehard]

JP is fighting a guy where he needs to come in fit, slimish, and fast. He slugs it out, he could lose. He needs power against the elite, but if he doesn't have it by now, and he doesn't, he needs to rely on his speed.