11-28-2018, 10:44 AM
First things first, as Lucas Browne reappears on Joseph Parker's radar
DUNCAN JOHNSTONE
Australian heavyweight Lucas Browne finally gets to fight in New Zealand on Saturday.
Lucas Browne can wait for now as Joseph Parker's promoter David Higgins refuses to be drawn on his fighter's future beyond his looming Christchurch clash.
Parker fights Mexican-American Alexander Flores at the Horncastle Arena on December 15 in a comeback bout that will set up the next phase of his career. It's win at all costs really after suffering the first two losses of his career.
Higgins said the implications were clear: "For Joseph it really is potentially career-ending and he would have to consider his options if he were to lose."
Parker will be a warm favourite at home despite the uncertainty over Flores' true value, a Californian-based fighter who tracked a similar course to the Kiwi early on but didn't get the opportunities that came the south Aucklander's way as he claimed the WBO belt for a 15 month reign.
For Higgins, it will be about mapping a route back to the top on the back of what is hopefully an impressive victory for Parker and there appear to be increasing options.
Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker's getting through plenty of skills and drills at his Las Vegas training camp.
Rugged Australian Browne slipped into Auckland last week to fight in New Zealand for the first time and recorded a fifth-round knockout of Junior Pati.
It was Browne's second win since his horrific loss to Dillian Whyte in London in late March.
There was talk of Parker fighting Browne in December with Parker's trainer Kevin Barry keen. But that date came too quickly for the Perth-based fighter given the nature of his knockout loss to Whyte.
With Parker also being beaten by Whyte in July, albeit in a controversial points decision, there is a marketing opportunity to add to the traditional spice of a competitive trans-Tasman brawl.
Higgins and Parker have their hopes set on a return to Britain but if nothing can be arranged for early next year, Browne could become a worthy alternative once again. Don't forget, Browne was being lined up earlier this year until Higgins pulled off the seemingly impossible and delivered the heavyweight unification fight with Anthony Joshua in Cardiff.
Higgins met Browne in Auckland last week but wouldn't be drawn into his line of thinking.
"Joseph has a job to do on December 15 and so we won't worry about the future until December 16, then all options are on the table," Higgins said.
Browne's win over Pati took his record to 27-1. But time is running away on the 39-year-old who has had his share of doping problems and suspensions and is eager to try to cash in on the tail end of his career. A fight against Parker would certainly be a money-spinner for him.
Browne's seriousness about resurrecting his career is portrayed in his new physique. Horribly out of shape against Whyte and paying the price for that, Browne has lost a lot of weight and fought twice in the past eight weeks, following an earlier KO of Julius Long in Australia.
Browne has also expressed a desire to fight New York-based Polish heavyweight Adam Kownacki who is 18-0 and coming off a win against former IBF champion Charles Martin and now has the respected Gerald Washington in his sights.
The dollars, as usual, will do the talking and for Parker there is immense pressure to get the job done in style against Flores. Then, as Higgins said, all options are on the table.
Parker is winding up his latest training camp in Las Vegas.
He and Higgins and Barry transfer to Los Angeles on Friday to take in the latest world heavyweight title fight between WBC champion Deontay Wilder of the United States and Britain's Tyson Fury at the Staples Centre.
Parker then flies to New Zealand, arriving on Tuesday to fine-tune his preparations for Flores.
DUNCAN JOHNSTONE
Australian heavyweight Lucas Browne finally gets to fight in New Zealand on Saturday.
Lucas Browne can wait for now as Joseph Parker's promoter David Higgins refuses to be drawn on his fighter's future beyond his looming Christchurch clash.
Parker fights Mexican-American Alexander Flores at the Horncastle Arena on December 15 in a comeback bout that will set up the next phase of his career. It's win at all costs really after suffering the first two losses of his career.
Higgins said the implications were clear: "For Joseph it really is potentially career-ending and he would have to consider his options if he were to lose."
Parker will be a warm favourite at home despite the uncertainty over Flores' true value, a Californian-based fighter who tracked a similar course to the Kiwi early on but didn't get the opportunities that came the south Aucklander's way as he claimed the WBO belt for a 15 month reign.
For Higgins, it will be about mapping a route back to the top on the back of what is hopefully an impressive victory for Parker and there appear to be increasing options.
Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker's getting through plenty of skills and drills at his Las Vegas training camp.
Rugged Australian Browne slipped into Auckland last week to fight in New Zealand for the first time and recorded a fifth-round knockout of Junior Pati.
It was Browne's second win since his horrific loss to Dillian Whyte in London in late March.
There was talk of Parker fighting Browne in December with Parker's trainer Kevin Barry keen. But that date came too quickly for the Perth-based fighter given the nature of his knockout loss to Whyte.
With Parker also being beaten by Whyte in July, albeit in a controversial points decision, there is a marketing opportunity to add to the traditional spice of a competitive trans-Tasman brawl.
Higgins and Parker have their hopes set on a return to Britain but if nothing can be arranged for early next year, Browne could become a worthy alternative once again. Don't forget, Browne was being lined up earlier this year until Higgins pulled off the seemingly impossible and delivered the heavyweight unification fight with Anthony Joshua in Cardiff.
Higgins met Browne in Auckland last week but wouldn't be drawn into his line of thinking.
"Joseph has a job to do on December 15 and so we won't worry about the future until December 16, then all options are on the table," Higgins said.
Browne's win over Pati took his record to 27-1. But time is running away on the 39-year-old who has had his share of doping problems and suspensions and is eager to try to cash in on the tail end of his career. A fight against Parker would certainly be a money-spinner for him.
Browne's seriousness about resurrecting his career is portrayed in his new physique. Horribly out of shape against Whyte and paying the price for that, Browne has lost a lot of weight and fought twice in the past eight weeks, following an earlier KO of Julius Long in Australia.
Browne has also expressed a desire to fight New York-based Polish heavyweight Adam Kownacki who is 18-0 and coming off a win against former IBF champion Charles Martin and now has the respected Gerald Washington in his sights.
The dollars, as usual, will do the talking and for Parker there is immense pressure to get the job done in style against Flores. Then, as Higgins said, all options are on the table.
Parker is winding up his latest training camp in Las Vegas.
He and Higgins and Barry transfer to Los Angeles on Friday to take in the latest world heavyweight title fight between WBC champion Deontay Wilder of the United States and Britain's Tyson Fury at the Staples Centre.
Parker then flies to New Zealand, arriving on Tuesday to fine-tune his preparations for Flores.