01-07-2016, 10:52 AM
Joseph Parker eyes Great Britain, 'it's the hottest place to be for boxing'
Joseph Parker's profile is on the rise and the Kiwi heavyweight boxer wants to showcase his skills on the other side of the world.
Joseph Parker wants to fight in Britain, saying "it's the hottest place to be for boxing".
With Tyson Fury claiming the world titles and Anthony Joshua touted as "the next big thing", rising New Zealand boxing heavyweight Parker is eager to put his skills on show in their backyard.
"The UK is the spot right now for boxing and it's the hottest place to be for boxing," Parker told the UK's Sky Sports.
"There's a lot of great heavyweights and a lot of great fighters there.
"I believe that our team are planning and trying our best to come there some time this year and display what we have."
Parker appears to be on a collision course with Joshua, the 26-year-old who is right alongside the Kiwi in the rankings of all the major organisations.
While that fight looks further down the line, Parker clearly isn't overawed by Joshua, the 2012 Olympic champion who has cut out an unbeaten professional record as quickly as the Aucklander.
"I believe that Anthony Joshua is a great fighter and he's doing very well on that side of the world," Parker told Sky Sports.
"I've been following his progress and what he's been doing. It makes me a little jealous, knowing that there are a lot of heavyweights in the UK and there is a lot of great fights for everyone there.
"In New Zealand and Australia, we don't really have the other heavyweights to contend against.
"I believe if we keep doing well and we keep winning, probably in the future we can meet up somewhere. I definitely have a lot of respect for him and his team. We are taking the same paths in what we're doing in our careers."
Parker predicted a clash with Joshua would be worth the price of admission.
"It will definitely be explosive and you have to feel that if I fight with Joshua, we'll definitely put in the work, train hard and it's a big fight for both of us, but I believe it's a fight that can happen in the future," Parker told Sky Sports.
"We've both got good records and good knockout power. It will be an exciting fight for the future.
"If you have two big heavyweights in a ring and one lands a big punch, then it can change anything. It depends who is more ready on the night."
Parker's next fight is against American southpaw Jason Bergman in Samoa on January 23.
That starts a busy year where his handlers are looking to move him into a mandatory challenger's position with one of the ranking organisations to set up a crack at a world title.
- Stuff
Joseph Parker's profile is on the rise and the Kiwi heavyweight boxer wants to showcase his skills on the other side of the world.
Joseph Parker wants to fight in Britain, saying "it's the hottest place to be for boxing".
With Tyson Fury claiming the world titles and Anthony Joshua touted as "the next big thing", rising New Zealand boxing heavyweight Parker is eager to put his skills on show in their backyard.
"The UK is the spot right now for boxing and it's the hottest place to be for boxing," Parker told the UK's Sky Sports.
"There's a lot of great heavyweights and a lot of great fighters there.
"I believe that our team are planning and trying our best to come there some time this year and display what we have."
Parker appears to be on a collision course with Joshua, the 26-year-old who is right alongside the Kiwi in the rankings of all the major organisations.
While that fight looks further down the line, Parker clearly isn't overawed by Joshua, the 2012 Olympic champion who has cut out an unbeaten professional record as quickly as the Aucklander.
"I believe that Anthony Joshua is a great fighter and he's doing very well on that side of the world," Parker told Sky Sports.
"I've been following his progress and what he's been doing. It makes me a little jealous, knowing that there are a lot of heavyweights in the UK and there is a lot of great fights for everyone there.
"In New Zealand and Australia, we don't really have the other heavyweights to contend against.
"I believe if we keep doing well and we keep winning, probably in the future we can meet up somewhere. I definitely have a lot of respect for him and his team. We are taking the same paths in what we're doing in our careers."
Parker predicted a clash with Joshua would be worth the price of admission.
"It will definitely be explosive and you have to feel that if I fight with Joshua, we'll definitely put in the work, train hard and it's a big fight for both of us, but I believe it's a fight that can happen in the future," Parker told Sky Sports.
"We've both got good records and good knockout power. It will be an exciting fight for the future.
"If you have two big heavyweights in a ring and one lands a big punch, then it can change anything. It depends who is more ready on the night."
Parker's next fight is against American southpaw Jason Bergman in Samoa on January 23.
That starts a busy year where his handlers are looking to move him into a mandatory challenger's position with one of the ranking organisations to set up a crack at a world title.
- Stuff