12-16-2018, 10:43 AM
Mission accomplished on all three fronts for Joseph Parker with aggressive win over Alexander Flores
OPINION: It's mission accomplished on three fronts for Joseph Parker and the Kiwi heavyweight can now holiday with comfort before the genuine rebuild of his career starts next year.
Parker's three-round demolition of Alexander Flores achieved everything it set out to do – give the 26-year-old a confidence boosting KO win, grab some international media attention, and prove that power and a ruthless edge have been added to his game.
Parker ended a difficult year that saw him beaten for the first time in his career at the hands of unified champion Anthony Joshua and man-handled by another Brit Dillian Whyte to a second consecutive defeat, on a bright note that had a dark edge to it.
Everything needs to be put in perspective and there's no dodging the fact that Flores was brought to New Zealand to end up precisely where he did – flat on his back on the canvas.
He wasn't a bum but he wasn't in Parker's class, nor was he able to cope with Parker's current mindset, a win at all costs mentality brought about by those two costly losses.
Flores copped an angry Parker who had primed his body to new dimensions, steeled his mind to that of an executioner, and made certain he would be the one dishing out the dirty deeds this time – low blows and elbows included.
In terms of a statement performance, the intent was delivered with an exclamation mark that was noted around the world.
That the international media covered an end-of-year fight in a tiny arena at the bottom of the world with such gusto is testimony to Parker's place in the current heavyweight scene.
In their eyes, he proved his relevance and, moving forward, that might be the biggest win from a night when victory was the only option.
Parker will continue to be mentioned as the drama of unifying the division plays out on a rocky path pot-holed by egos and agendas.
There was much to like about this effort from Parker, despite the limited opposition.
It would have been easy for Parker to step back from his losses and enjoy the considerable monetary comforts of 2018 that have set him up for life.
But he showed he is serious about his road to redemption and a desire to get a world title back. That was displayed in his new-look body.
Parker has struggled to find the right mix of size and power that doesn't detract from his deadly natural gift of hand speed and general movement.
But in producing a muscle-toned physique that still allowed him the comfort of his normal fighting weight, Parker appears to have found a compromise that has, indeed, brought some extra grunt to his game.
There's nothing like a knockout to get a boxer smiling, especially a heavyweight. It had been more than two years since Parker ended a fight early and for all the benefits of going the distance, there was a concern that he had lost the big bang to be more than just competitive in the current ranks.
We wait to see if that extra power can now help him get back to where he belongs. There have been notable questions when Parker has stepped up in class of opposition over the past couple of years. Flores was a step back and he was duly disposed.
Something similar needs to now be achieved against a genuine contender.
Stuff
OPINION: It's mission accomplished on three fronts for Joseph Parker and the Kiwi heavyweight can now holiday with comfort before the genuine rebuild of his career starts next year.
Parker's three-round demolition of Alexander Flores achieved everything it set out to do – give the 26-year-old a confidence boosting KO win, grab some international media attention, and prove that power and a ruthless edge have been added to his game.
Parker ended a difficult year that saw him beaten for the first time in his career at the hands of unified champion Anthony Joshua and man-handled by another Brit Dillian Whyte to a second consecutive defeat, on a bright note that had a dark edge to it.
Everything needs to be put in perspective and there's no dodging the fact that Flores was brought to New Zealand to end up precisely where he did – flat on his back on the canvas.
He wasn't a bum but he wasn't in Parker's class, nor was he able to cope with Parker's current mindset, a win at all costs mentality brought about by those two costly losses.
Flores copped an angry Parker who had primed his body to new dimensions, steeled his mind to that of an executioner, and made certain he would be the one dishing out the dirty deeds this time – low blows and elbows included.
In terms of a statement performance, the intent was delivered with an exclamation mark that was noted around the world.
That the international media covered an end-of-year fight in a tiny arena at the bottom of the world with such gusto is testimony to Parker's place in the current heavyweight scene.
In their eyes, he proved his relevance and, moving forward, that might be the biggest win from a night when victory was the only option.
Parker will continue to be mentioned as the drama of unifying the division plays out on a rocky path pot-holed by egos and agendas.
There was much to like about this effort from Parker, despite the limited opposition.
It would have been easy for Parker to step back from his losses and enjoy the considerable monetary comforts of 2018 that have set him up for life.
But he showed he is serious about his road to redemption and a desire to get a world title back. That was displayed in his new-look body.
Parker has struggled to find the right mix of size and power that doesn't detract from his deadly natural gift of hand speed and general movement.
But in producing a muscle-toned physique that still allowed him the comfort of his normal fighting weight, Parker appears to have found a compromise that has, indeed, brought some extra grunt to his game.
There's nothing like a knockout to get a boxer smiling, especially a heavyweight. It had been more than two years since Parker ended a fight early and for all the benefits of going the distance, there was a concern that he had lost the big bang to be more than just competitive in the current ranks.
We wait to see if that extra power can now help him get back to where he belongs. There have been notable questions when Parker has stepped up in class of opposition over the past couple of years. Flores was a step back and he was duly disposed.
Something similar needs to now be achieved against a genuine contender.
Stuff