10-07-2015, 01:34 PM
Kali Meehan claims his son Willis hits harder than NZ boxing hope Joseph Parker
MARTIN DE RUYTER/FAIRFAX NZ
Professional heavyweights Kali Meehan and son Willis Meehan will feature on the same card in west Auckland next week.
Kali Meehan claims his son has a bigger punch than Joseph Parker.
That's quite a statement as the veteran boxer gets set to take on New Zealand's rising heavyweight in west Auckland next week with Parker boasting 13 knockouts in his 15 successive wins.
Meehan, never one for trash talk, has been using his 20-year-old son Willis as his main sparring partner.
Willis is quite a specimen. He stands 1.95m and weighs more than 120kg. He has ditched a promising rugby league career to concentrate on boxing.
The former Australian super-heavyweight amateur champion will look to improve his fledging professional career on the undercard to his father's fight with Parker.
READ MORE: Cameron: Why Parker beats Meehan
Kali Meehan believes his son has provided him with an ideal buildup, presenting power and movement in the training ring that are among Parker's assets.
"He's a big, hard guy who I believe hits harder than Joseph," Meehan said of Willis, adding, "he's harder to hit, he's very evasive."
Meehan hasn't fought since systematically dismantling Shane Cameron over 10 rounds in Auckland last November, a fight that ended Cameron's career.
Inactivity should count against a 45-year-old but the wily Meehan is a meticulous planner who prides himself on his preparation and physical appearance in the ring.
"It's been about a year off. That's not perfect but I've had around 80 rounds of sparring, hard sparring. I feel I will be ready on the night, I'm feeling good."
Meehan had a stunning 2014, winning the inaugural Super 8 tournament in west Auckland and then out-gunning Cameron in results that earned him some overdue respect in New Zealand.
BETTER SHAPE
He's thrilled to get another opportunity in New Zealand and believes he's in better shape than when he entered the ring against Cameron.
"I'm much better now and I also have those 10 rounds with Shane under my belt, too. Even though it's close to a year ago, it still helps," he said.
Born in Fiji and raised in west Auckland, Meehan took his game to Australia where he did enough to become an international force, fighting for the WBO title in 2004, losing a controversial split decision to Lamon Brewster.
Having applauded the ground-breaking work of Kiwi heavyweights Jimmy Peau and David Tua to ignite the Kiwi fight game, Meehan now gets a chance to face the fresh face of the New Zealand scene in Parker - and get a chance to measure the power of Parker against his son's.
- Stuff
MARTIN DE RUYTER/FAIRFAX NZ
Professional heavyweights Kali Meehan and son Willis Meehan will feature on the same card in west Auckland next week.
Kali Meehan claims his son has a bigger punch than Joseph Parker.
That's quite a statement as the veteran boxer gets set to take on New Zealand's rising heavyweight in west Auckland next week with Parker boasting 13 knockouts in his 15 successive wins.
Meehan, never one for trash talk, has been using his 20-year-old son Willis as his main sparring partner.
Willis is quite a specimen. He stands 1.95m and weighs more than 120kg. He has ditched a promising rugby league career to concentrate on boxing.
The former Australian super-heavyweight amateur champion will look to improve his fledging professional career on the undercard to his father's fight with Parker.
READ MORE: Cameron: Why Parker beats Meehan
Kali Meehan believes his son has provided him with an ideal buildup, presenting power and movement in the training ring that are among Parker's assets.
"He's a big, hard guy who I believe hits harder than Joseph," Meehan said of Willis, adding, "he's harder to hit, he's very evasive."
Meehan hasn't fought since systematically dismantling Shane Cameron over 10 rounds in Auckland last November, a fight that ended Cameron's career.
Inactivity should count against a 45-year-old but the wily Meehan is a meticulous planner who prides himself on his preparation and physical appearance in the ring.
"It's been about a year off. That's not perfect but I've had around 80 rounds of sparring, hard sparring. I feel I will be ready on the night, I'm feeling good."
Meehan had a stunning 2014, winning the inaugural Super 8 tournament in west Auckland and then out-gunning Cameron in results that earned him some overdue respect in New Zealand.
BETTER SHAPE
He's thrilled to get another opportunity in New Zealand and believes he's in better shape than when he entered the ring against Cameron.
"I'm much better now and I also have those 10 rounds with Shane under my belt, too. Even though it's close to a year ago, it still helps," he said.
Born in Fiji and raised in west Auckland, Meehan took his game to Australia where he did enough to become an international force, fighting for the WBO title in 2004, losing a controversial split decision to Lamon Brewster.
Having applauded the ground-breaking work of Kiwi heavyweights Jimmy Peau and David Tua to ignite the Kiwi fight game, Meehan now gets a chance to face the fresh face of the New Zealand scene in Parker - and get a chance to measure the power of Parker against his son's.
- Stuff