NZBoxChat

oseph Parker eager to debut 'punches in bunches' fighting style against Junior Fa
54 MIN AGO • SOURCE: 1 NEWS

Kiwi boxer Joseph Parker is warning his potential next opponent and fellow New Zealander Junior Fa he’ll be the first to experience a new, more aggressive heavyweight in the ring.

A bout between the former amateur rivals has been discussed heavily but is yet to be finalised, although Parker is hopeful it all comes together soon for a fight before Christmas.

The 28-year-old told the Toe-to-Toe podcast if it does come together, he would use it to unveil a new approach he’s settled in as he looks to fight his way back into title talks.

"In the past, I've been too safe and not taking the risks that I need,” Parker said.

“From now on it's going to be a lot more aggression and you've got to throw punches to win. Hopefully it's going to be a lot of combinations and punches in bunches.

"Hopefully [Fa] signs the contract with his team and gets ready for it, because I'm keen to fight and I'm ready to go."

Fa and Parker split two wins each while amateurs with Fa taking the first and last of the four encounters.

Since both turned professional though, their paths have been remarkably different with Parker going on to claim the WBO heavyweight title and Fa having to combat health issues.

If all goes to plan for Parker, he’d then start looking at some of the bigger names in his division, such as rising star Daniel Dubois or a rival Dillian Whyte, to forge a path back to the top.

Dubois moved past Parker in the WBO rankings last week, giving the Englishman a better chance of fighting No.1 ranked Oleksander Usyk for the title if Anthony Joshua is forced to vacate the belt because of his inability to defend it due to a busy schedule.

"I feel like there's a big chance we can face each other," Parker said of Dubois who has quickly gone to 15-0 with 14 KOs.

"He's ranked No 2 now in the WBO, so he's past me, I'm ranked No 3.

"You keep an eye on everyone that's fighting, you keep an eye on the rankings, you keep an eye on the people coming up, the guys who have been there for a while.

"You never know in boxing, there's match-ups can be made with anyone. I'm keen to fight anyone, I don't care who it is.

"I'm in a position now where I just want to fight best, be involved in the biggest fights, and go out there and try and smash you, so I can be champion of the world once again."

EXCLUSIVE

Anthony Joshua would be honoured to share the ring again with Joseph Parker - but sends an ominous warning to the Kiwi heavyweight.

As the Brit prepares for his first bout of 2020, the division continues to be convoluted, with contenders doing their talking outside the ring.

When the COVID-19 pandemic brought a halt to sport, boxing suffered as much as any - specifically the heavyweight division, which seemed on course to crown an undisputed champion this year.

But only a handful of the top 15 have stepped inside the ring this year, leaving the division virtually stagnant.

That changes on Sunday (NZ time), when Joshua defends his WBO, IBF and WBA titles against 1.95m (6ft 4in) Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in London.

A win for Joshua would hopefully lead to a unification bout with WBC champion Tyson Fury early next year, finally giving the heavyweight division a first unified champion, since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

In the mix to spoil that plan is former WBO champion Parker, who is set to fight Junior Fa in February or March 2021.

The 28-year-old came up short against Joshua in 2018, although he remains the only man 'AJ' has failed to drop in 22 fights.

Speaking exclusively to Newshub, Joshua says he holds huge respect for Parker and wouldn't be shocked to see him earn another title title shot within the next 12 months.

But Joshua says the outcome would be the same - just more violent.

"I like Joseph - he's a good man, " Joshua tells Newshub. "That was a technical fight, where I wanted to show off my boxing skills and I never quite created the opportunity to 'sleep' him.

"He has a great team behind him over there - a great trainer - and he's dangerous and super quick, but if we fought again, I would knock him out.

"But much respect to Joe and I hope I will see him again soon."

Before that, though, Joshua must overcome the stiff challenge of Pulev, who has just one defeat in 29 fights.

That came in 2014 against Wladimir Klitschko and since then, the 39-year-old has won eight straight fights, beating contenders Hughie Fury, Derek Chisora and Kevin Johnson.

Joshua is well aware of the challenge before him, but plans on leaving London as he entered - the champion.

"I want to be the unified champion and to do that I have to beat Kubrat. This is a tough fight - he's lost once in 11 years and beaten some top guys.

"But I've made a lot of changes - both mentally and physically - since New York [loss to Andy Ruiz] and I feel very confident that I will get the job done."


After that, Joshua hopes to fight Fury, but the murky waters of the heavyweight division are likely to throw up another curveball or two.

Regardless, Joshua's focus is simple - to be the best.

"That fight will be the biggest in the history of UK boxing," Joshua tells Newshub. "It will be big all over the world, but we both have to keep winning to make it happen.

"I want to fight Tyson and I'm pretty sure he wants to fight me, so we will see what happens.

"The boxing world needs an undisputed heavyweight champion."

Join Newshub for live updates of Anthony Joshua v Kubrat Pulev from 8am Sunday.

Parker may have to fight Joyce in a WBO eliminator (best case scenario)

Fa fight may even be cancelled if that is the case

Well - at least the Chisora fight should carry some excitement.

It'd be interesting to know what Parker's purse would be for the Chisora fight, he's not really much of a draw card in the UK (especially after the Fa hugfest). 25% of what he earnt against Fa maybe? In hindsight he should of stayed in the UK after the Whyte fight, fought again and then pushed for the rematch.

Parker still well enough known and the public will pay to see if Del can KO him so he will be paid pretty well

(03-03-2021, 10:03 PM)bart Wrote: [ -> ]Parker still well enough known and the public will pay to see if Del can KO him so he will be paid pretty well

I don't see it topping a card though.

Neither do I, unless it's at Fight Camp but then again Whyte v Povetkin topped a card there and that's way bigger than the Del Boy v Parker fight. The Parker being a big draw card in the UK comes from Duco and has been grabbed by the New Zealand media and further exaggerated as time has gone on

Chisora is a draw though and Parker has a name there so if promoted correctly it will do OK. Del knows how to sell a fight he will call JP names (already started) throw the odd table - push people around etc etc .The UK public even if its contrived love that from Del