10-07-2015, 08:57 PM
Sparring partner reaches out to help Joseph Parker defy long shot in boxing bout
Polish-born Nigerian Izu Ugonoh has been helping fellow heavyweight Joseph Parker overcome the tyranny of distance against veteran Kali Meehan in Auckland next Thursday.
The value in welcoming Polish-born, Nigerian Izu Ugonoh into Joseph Parker's camp could be apparent when New Zealand's leading heavyweight tries to keep Kali Meehan's jab at arm's length.
A former kickboxing world champion turned heavyweight boxer, 28-year-old Ugonoh has potentially given Joseph the ideal leg up as he seeks to combat Auckland-born Meehan's long levers in Auckland next Thursday.
Parker has rarely faced an opponent with a superior reach during his unbeaten 15-fight professional career, but Australian-based veteran Meehan (42-5) fits that description with a 13cm advantage, according to the tale of the tape.
To compensate for Meehan's 206cm reach Parker has been sparring with close friend Ugonoh, who joined trainer Kevin Barry's Las Vegas-based operation a year ago.
Ugonoh, who is 13-0 and on the undercard to Parker and Meehan's main event has, according to Barry, the wingspan of an albatross - or in boxing dimensions, 213cm.
"It's been a great training camp," said Parker, before a shadow boxing session with Ugonoh in Christchurch on Wednesday.
"Izu's been great, the best sparring partner I've had. He's got a long reach as well, I know I've prepared well."
Parker, 23, had rarely been troubled since his professional debut in 2012, though Brazilian Marcelo Luiz Nascimento did pose some technical challenges until he succumbed to a seventh round TKO in Germany in April 2014.
"I had a bit of trouble with Nascimento's height and reach, trying to cut him off in the ring, but I've been able to learn what I did wrong against a tall opponent.
"With every camp Kevin's been teaching me the things I've been doing wrong and helped me improve. Kev's been focusing on me trying to work my way into someone with a long reach."
Parker said he would also rely on his speed and movement to tire the 45-year-old, though he did not expect Meehan to flag aerobically despite this being his first bout since he ended Shane Cameron's career with a unanimous decision last November.
"We've seen in the last fight he can go the 10 rounds and we've given him a lot of time to train hard and prepare for this fight," said Parker.
However, Barry thought the hard-hitting Parker's youth and conditioning would prove influential.
"Joe has phenomenal hand speed. He also very strong, he's got very young legs that will be used in this fight."
- Stuff
Polish-born Nigerian Izu Ugonoh has been helping fellow heavyweight Joseph Parker overcome the tyranny of distance against veteran Kali Meehan in Auckland next Thursday.
The value in welcoming Polish-born, Nigerian Izu Ugonoh into Joseph Parker's camp could be apparent when New Zealand's leading heavyweight tries to keep Kali Meehan's jab at arm's length.
A former kickboxing world champion turned heavyweight boxer, 28-year-old Ugonoh has potentially given Joseph the ideal leg up as he seeks to combat Auckland-born Meehan's long levers in Auckland next Thursday.
Parker has rarely faced an opponent with a superior reach during his unbeaten 15-fight professional career, but Australian-based veteran Meehan (42-5) fits that description with a 13cm advantage, according to the tale of the tape.
To compensate for Meehan's 206cm reach Parker has been sparring with close friend Ugonoh, who joined trainer Kevin Barry's Las Vegas-based operation a year ago.
Ugonoh, who is 13-0 and on the undercard to Parker and Meehan's main event has, according to Barry, the wingspan of an albatross - or in boxing dimensions, 213cm.
"It's been a great training camp," said Parker, before a shadow boxing session with Ugonoh in Christchurch on Wednesday.
"Izu's been great, the best sparring partner I've had. He's got a long reach as well, I know I've prepared well."
Parker, 23, had rarely been troubled since his professional debut in 2012, though Brazilian Marcelo Luiz Nascimento did pose some technical challenges until he succumbed to a seventh round TKO in Germany in April 2014.
"I had a bit of trouble with Nascimento's height and reach, trying to cut him off in the ring, but I've been able to learn what I did wrong against a tall opponent.
"With every camp Kevin's been teaching me the things I've been doing wrong and helped me improve. Kev's been focusing on me trying to work my way into someone with a long reach."
Parker said he would also rely on his speed and movement to tire the 45-year-old, though he did not expect Meehan to flag aerobically despite this being his first bout since he ended Shane Cameron's career with a unanimous decision last November.
"We've seen in the last fight he can go the 10 rounds and we've given him a lot of time to train hard and prepare for this fight," said Parker.
However, Barry thought the hard-hitting Parker's youth and conditioning would prove influential.
"Joe has phenomenal hand speed. He also very strong, he's got very young legs that will be used in this fight."
- Stuff