Joseph Parker's Samoan challenge will come from left-field
DUNCAN JOHNSTONE
Last updated 11:17, October 22 2015
A new destination brings a new challenge for rising New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker who will face a left-handed opponent for the first time in Samoa in January.
Parker's Samoan schedule, dubbed "Rumble in Paradise" was confirmed in Apia on Thursday.
He will fight at the Faleata Sports Complex, an indoor venue with 2000 seats, on Saturday, January 23 with the bout kicking off another busy year for the 23-year-old.
Parker's opponent is yet to be named, but his promoters have confirmed that he will be facing "a risky left-handed fighter for the very first time".
As well as seeing a taller opponent vital to Parker's continued progression they want to pit him against a "southpaw" to test his defensive patterns and make the necessary attacking adjustments. Southpaws fight with their right foot forward, leading with right-handed jabs to set up their heavy left-handed bombs.
Parker welcomed the challenge.
"It's a different style of fighting and it's awkward," Parker said from Samoa.
"Southpaws stand a different way and throw different punches."
The top 10 active southpaw heavyweights at the moment, according to Boxrec rankings are: Tony Thompson (US), Antonio Tarver (US), Ruslan Chagaev (Uzbek), Artur Szpilka (Poland), Louis Ortiz (Cuba), Mike Perez (Cuba), Amir Mansour (US), Charles Martin (US), Francesco Pianeta (Ger) and Donovan Dennis (US).
Parker doesn't want to get ahead of himself. He first has to feature on the Fight For Life promotion in Hamilton on December 5 and his opponent there is also still to be announced.
But Parker admitted he was thrilled to be getting a chance to fight in Samoa, where both his parents were born and the island is a regular holiday destination with his family owning property 30 minutes from Apia.
"Samoa is part of who I am and it's part of my culture and I want to give back to my people," he said.
Parker has been in Samoa since Tuesday and has proven a huge hit with the public.
Thursday's confirmation of the fight details followed a meeting with Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi.
The fight follows the All Blacks' historic test against Samoa in Apia in July.
It will be a landmark fight for Samoa who never had the pleasure of seeing heavyweight star David Tua fight there during his prime.
Parker has fought in the United States and Germany with the bulk of his bouts in New Zealand.
Parker's last fight was a third round knockout of veteran Kali Meehan in Auckland last week that took his professional record to 16-0 with 14 KOs.
Parker is ranked No 6 with the WBO, 13 with the WBA and 14 with the WBC and independent rankings issued by respected website Boxrec saw him leap nine places to No 9 on the back of the result against Meehan.
DUNCAN JOHNSTONE
Last updated 11:17, October 22 2015
A new destination brings a new challenge for rising New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker who will face a left-handed opponent for the first time in Samoa in January.
Parker's Samoan schedule, dubbed "Rumble in Paradise" was confirmed in Apia on Thursday.
He will fight at the Faleata Sports Complex, an indoor venue with 2000 seats, on Saturday, January 23 with the bout kicking off another busy year for the 23-year-old.
Parker's opponent is yet to be named, but his promoters have confirmed that he will be facing "a risky left-handed fighter for the very first time".
As well as seeing a taller opponent vital to Parker's continued progression they want to pit him against a "southpaw" to test his defensive patterns and make the necessary attacking adjustments. Southpaws fight with their right foot forward, leading with right-handed jabs to set up their heavy left-handed bombs.
Parker welcomed the challenge.
"It's a different style of fighting and it's awkward," Parker said from Samoa.
"Southpaws stand a different way and throw different punches."
The top 10 active southpaw heavyweights at the moment, according to Boxrec rankings are: Tony Thompson (US), Antonio Tarver (US), Ruslan Chagaev (Uzbek), Artur Szpilka (Poland), Louis Ortiz (Cuba), Mike Perez (Cuba), Amir Mansour (US), Charles Martin (US), Francesco Pianeta (Ger) and Donovan Dennis (US).
Parker doesn't want to get ahead of himself. He first has to feature on the Fight For Life promotion in Hamilton on December 5 and his opponent there is also still to be announced.
But Parker admitted he was thrilled to be getting a chance to fight in Samoa, where both his parents were born and the island is a regular holiday destination with his family owning property 30 minutes from Apia.
"Samoa is part of who I am and it's part of my culture and I want to give back to my people," he said.
Parker has been in Samoa since Tuesday and has proven a huge hit with the public.
Thursday's confirmation of the fight details followed a meeting with Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi.
The fight follows the All Blacks' historic test against Samoa in Apia in July.
It will be a landmark fight for Samoa who never had the pleasure of seeing heavyweight star David Tua fight there during his prime.
Parker has fought in the United States and Germany with the bulk of his bouts in New Zealand.
Parker's last fight was a third round knockout of veteran Kali Meehan in Auckland last week that took his professional record to 16-0 with 14 KOs.
Parker is ranked No 6 with the WBO, 13 with the WBA and 14 with the WBC and independent rankings issued by respected website Boxrec saw him leap nine places to No 9 on the back of the result against Meehan.