Excellent. So what do you think about JP/Hunter? Hunter says he wants the fight, so maybe easier to make? But for less money.
Winner and loser — Joseph Parker
Joseph Parker’s bout on Sunday at least got more entertaining as it went on which is the inverse of his career that has appeared to have reached the tiring final rounds stage.
Parker should be putting away someone like Jack Massey within the first few rounds. You know Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua would. In the introduction to Sunday morning’s fight, the commentators talked about how ”One Smack” Jack had fought just once in 2022, and he was making the step up from cruiserweight to take on the former heavyweight champion.
The impression I got was that Massey was more a scaffolder than a boxer. So anything but a knockout should have been on the cards for Parker.
The fact it went the distance should be considered a loss. This perception is not helped by claims from the Parker camp that his underdog opponent was boxing too negative. What were they expecting? Next time, have a better game plan to predict how to deal with that.
Which brings the main question around Parker. At this stage of his career, you can’t help but think why is he still fighting? What’s the point? He was on the undercard of a fight that didn’t take place until two hours later. The Manchester celebs weren’t even in their seats for his bout. He’ll need to go at least another two years to even have a hope of another title shot and from what we’ve seen in recent years he just doesn’t have the power to contend even if he did get that chance. A big if. It just doesn’t seem worth it.
I don't think AJ, Whyte, or Ruiz were worried before about how dangerous JP was. And it doesn't mean they will fight him now. No way AJ or Ruiz will waste their time on JP, as they have better fights lined up potentially. Yes, if Whyte/AJ falls thru, that's a possibility for JP. I'd be targeting guys in the top ten like Sanchez, Hunter, McKean, DDD, with a view towards a main event, preferably in the UK.
I re-watched some of the JP/Massey fight. JP's punches were sharp and accurate. Except for one or two, they didn't really trouble Massey though. And there were way too many gaps in-between his punches. He's just not active enough. Which was his problem with JJ. Not active enough and not effective enough. His defense? A lazy left hand, and he still leads with his head at times, an old habit of his.
Weirdly, despite his being passive at times, he came into the fight in good shape. Good muscle and little fat.
It's all a bit tall poppy' - Joseph Parker's new predicament
Duncan Johnstone
Joseph Parker got the victory over Jack Massey on the judge's cards in Manchester.
Joseph Parker’s manager has promised a tougher opponent for the Kiwi heavyweight’s next fight and defended his performance in his comeback win last weekend, fearing the former world champ was becoming “a tall poppy”.
Parker returned to action against British cruiserweight Jack Massey in Manchester, recording a unanimous points win on Sunday (NZT).
While it was a dominant victory on the judges’ cards, the inability to use his 14kg weight superiority and vast experience, including holding the WBO belt, to secure a knockout result has seen his effort criticised.
The mixed performance has left more questions than answers on his ability to re-establish himself in the top tier.
David Higgins, who has been guiding Parker’s professional career since 2012, still sees a bright future for the 31-year-old.
Higgins suggested Parker, once the darling of the Kiwi sporting scene, was becoming another victim of New Zealand’s notorious tall poppy syndrome and felt the international boxing media had provided better perspective on his performance against the unheralded Massey.
“We are happy with the win, I’d say only New Zealand could conjure a negative out of that (concentrating on the lack of a knockout) … it's all a bit tall poppy,” Higgins told Stuff.
“The reality is Joseph had just come off a very hard fight against Joe Joyce, a knockout loss, and he won nearly every round against a very negative opponent.
“So we are happy. My instructions from Joseph are he wants to fight again as soon as possible.
“We are obviously going to fight someone tougher next time and step it up again.”
Asked if there were good fights out there for Parker, Higgins said: “Yes 100% … perversely the way this last fight could be viewed, it will help me do my job. The big names, the likes of Dillian Whyte, Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz, may see Joseph as easier now.
“But we know that if Joseph does perform at his best he can beat them.”
Like Parker and trainer Andy Lee, Higgins felt the negative approach of Massey had impacted the fight and frustrated the Kiwi.
But, coming off that loss to Joyce, a win was crucial for Parker’s rebuilding phase. While a statement knockout hadn’t been delivered, Higgins described the 96-93, 97-92, 97-93 points verdict as “a whitewash”.
“Boxing is such a mercenary sport that winning is everything and losing is nothing. So, foremost you have to win,” Higgins said.
“Secondly, if you are going to win on points, you need to dominate, win most of the rounds. Joseph definitely won 80% of the rounds or more.
“Thirdly, when your opponent is being negative, holding and back-pedalling, it's hard to get the knockout.
“We had that before with Jason Bergman in Samoa, where the opponents are not fighting to win, they are accepting they are going to lose and are just trying to survive. This guy (Massey) lost eight out of 10 rounds which is a whitewash to Joseph Parker.”
Parker will reunite with his family in New Zealand while negotiations start for his next fight. He said he was willing to get back into action as early as March and would like another two fights this year.
Higgins said Parker had accepted he still has a lot more to learn with Lee and was adamant he still had a lot more potential to try to get back into the title frame.
It will be interesting to see what impact his latest win has on his world rankings. The loss to Joyce dropped Parker to No 8 with the WBO and No 11 with the WBC. He is at No 8 on the independent Ring Magazine list.
Boxing: Former promoter Dean Lonergan backs Joseph Parker to win world title again
NZ Herald
Joseph Parker’s former promoter believes the Kiwi heavyweight is two fights away from another world title shot and rates his chances of lifting the belt once again.
Parker had to go the distance on Sunday to defeat Great Britain’s Jack Massey in Manchester as he begins another career rebuild after suffering his first knockout defeat last September to Joe Joyce.
The Kiwi-Samoan improved his record to 31-3 with the victory over Massey, who was stepping up from cruiserweight to face the former WBO world champion.
Parker’s camp claimed Massey fought too negatively as the 31-year-old failed to record a knockout victory against the lesser opponent.
Former promoter Dean Lonergan talked to Newstalk ZB’s D’Arcy Waldegrave on Sportstalk last night, and was asked whether Parker should call it quits.
“Absolutely not. Kiwis expect to see a sublime performance every time out, he’s going to knock this guy out, he’s going to knock that guy out. Joe is still in the high six figures, probably getting close to seven figures when he’s got bigger fights, he’s making enormous money out of the sport,” Lonergan said.
“What people don’t understand, that performance on the weekend — it was a good performance where he did what he had to do. He didn’t get the knockout and you know, I’m sure a lot of people would have liked to have seen that but Jack Massey went in there to survive the fight rather than win the fight and it didn’t allow Joe too many opportunities, but Joe won the fight.
“It means he moves up the next time around. I tell you what, if he has two more wins, he’ll be fighting for the world heavyweight title again and back in the serious money and he’s aligned with the bright boxing promoter in the UK.”
Lonergan said Parker, who is currently ranked eighth in the WBO rankings, is back on track in his career following the win.
“I think he’s not far away and I know a lot of people look at this, he didn’t do this, he didn’t do that. I just look at it from an overall point of view and he won the fight; that’s all he had to do.
“He’s now back on track and his coach Andy Lee made sure that Joseph didn’t have the world’s hardest opponent because he fought probably the number one or probably number two heavyweight in the world in his last fight, Joe Joyce.
“Joe is still entertaining. He’s got plenty of gas left in the tank and I think we’re gonna see plenty of him yet.”
Lonergan said Parker should be aiming for a rematch with Anthony Joshua. The two fought in 2018 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff when Parker was the WBO world champion and the Englishman held the IBF, IBO heavyweight and WBA super heavyweight belts. Joshua won the bout by unanimous decision handing Parker his first defeat.
“I think a fantastic fight for Joe, if it could be gotten, and he has one more win I think it could be gotten, would be Anthony Joshua. I think that’s a fight Joe could definitely win and that’s a huge money fight because Joshua attracts big money. And I think there’s Dillian Whyte on the table as well. I think Dillian is well past his best and Joe could knock him out again … so there’s good fights out there for him.
“Kiwis should not be writing Joe Parker off. They should be thinking, okay, what’s next for him? Can he go back to the world title. In my opinion, he can,” Lonergan said
“He’s got a long tail left in him. Joe as a heavyweight, he’s still in his prime right now. All of us have performances that go up and down. The most important thing right now for the next one to two fights is Joe wins. And if he can win by those knockout stoppages, all the better because it means the payday is going to be greater.”
Joseph Parker's fight options as he plots swift return to the ring
Sam Wilson
05:00, Jan 29 2023
Joseph Parker is seeking a swift return after surprisingly being taken the distance by Jack Massey.
ANALYSIS: It was a far from vintage display, but Joseph Parker at least returned to the win column last weekend with his decision victory over Jack Massey in Manchester.
Coming off a confidence-sapping knockout loss to Joe Joyce, the former WBO champion had been tipped to take out his unfamiliar opponent inside the distance.
After all, the Englishman had never fought at heavyweight before and was giving up a hefty 14kg in weight to Parker (31-3, 21 KOs), who came in with a point to prove.
Yet as has often been the case throughout Parker's successful if frustrating career, he flattered to deceive and fought to the level of his competition, making for a drab spectacle.
That said, a win's a win and as his longtime manager David Higgins pointed out, Parker's lacklustre showing could work in his favour.
The 31-year-old has long sought rematches against Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte and Andy Ruiz Jr, only for his pleas to be ignored. They might be more open after seeing him struggle to put away Massey.
But with Parker instructing his team he wants to get out again as soon as possible, likely in April, those fights are off the table for now. Here's a rundown of five potential opponents as he looks to re-establish himself among the division's top tier.
No-one has been more vocal about their desire to fight Parker than mouthy American Hunter. Known as 'The Bounty', the 34-year-old is looking for a big-name opponent to help reignite his career after a disastrous move to promotional upstarts Triller.
Hunter moved up from cruiserweight in 2018 and has taken some notable scalps, including victories over then-unbeaten prospects Martin Bakole (10th round TKO) and Sergey Kuzmin (unanimous decision).
His only defeat was a spirited points loss to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in 2017 at 200 pounds, but he was held to a surprise draw by journeyman Jerry Forrest in his last outing 14 months ago.
Nevertheless, Hunter would be a difficult matchup style-wise for Parker, possessing fast feet and hands and respectable pop in his fists, as a 60.87% knockout ratio suggests.
On the plus side, at 6ft 2in he is one of the smaller heavyweights and won't be able to impose his size on Parker.
His financial demands could be a stumbling block, particularly if a rumoured rematch with Bakole comes to fruition.
Demsey McKean has an impressive record on paper, but the lanky Queenslander is eminently beatable.
Demsey McKean (22-0, 14 KOs)
The unbeaten Australian has been linked with a trans-Tasman clash with Parker for years, so what better time than now?
The 6ft 6in Queenslander is based in the UK, where he's been a regular sparring partner for Joshua and despite his impressive-looking record, is eminently beatable.
His best win was an out-of-the-blue stoppage of American Jonathan Rice in March 2020 where he closed the show with seconds remaining in the 10th and final round.
Other than that, his resume is pretty thin and he hasn't fought since October so will be eager for an opportunity.
However, McKean is contracted to rival promoter Matchroom, meaning Eddie Hearn would have to give the fight his blessing. That could be a problem given his frosty relations with Sky Sports and partnership with DAZN.
Furthermore, McKean is a virtual unknown in Britain – it would only make sense to put the fight on in either Australia or New Zealand, where it would capture the public imagination.
Hearn's Matchroom are looking to break into the Australasian market so there is hope a deal could be done – if McKean isn't thrown to Joshua first.
Bryant Jennings is the only man to have taken Joe Joyce the distance, losing a decision in July 2019.
Bryant Jennings (24-4, 14 KOs)
Despite not having fought since a credible July 2019 decision loss to Joyce, the American veteran was in the running to face Parker before the opportunity to fight Massey arose.
Now 38, the Philadelphia native's best days are long behind him, dropping his past two fights (he was also stopped by Oscar Rivas). Indeed, the last time he tasted victory was almost five years ago, a ninth-round stoppage of Alexander Dimitrenko.
Yet boxing is a strange business and if Jennings does decide to resume his career, he would provide a credible test for Parker with his slick movement and ring craft.
He took long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko 12 rounds in his sole world title shot in 2015, and his elusiveness and durability might count against him.
Parker's trainer Andy Lee was not enamoured with Massey's negative approach, so wouldn't relish putting his man in with another slippery customer known to hold and spoil.
Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin gave Tyson Fury a fright and is chasing another big-name opponent.
Otto Wallin (25-1, 14 KOs)
The Swede has found willing dance partners hard to come by since giving Tyson Fury an almighty scare back in September 2019, almost forcing a stoppage of the WBC champion after opening up a bloody cut.
Wallin fought twice last year against Kamil Sokolowski and Rydell Booker and shook off the cobwebs against Helaman Olguin earlier this week in a low-key encounter.
He is hungry for big names having seen proposed bouts against Whyte and Joshua fall by the wayside and Parker could fit the bill.
A tricky southpaw with solid power in both hands, Wallin isn't afraid to mix it up close and presents a tough challenge.
Parker would earn plenty of credit with a victory over someone of Wallin's stature – particularly if he could become the first man to stop him.
Frazer Clarke won on the undercard and is keen on a clash with his Boxxer stablemate Joseph Parker.
Frazer Clarke (5-0, 4 KOs)
After beating Argentine slugger Kevin Nicolas Espindola on the undercard, Englishman Clarke threw his hat in the ring to face his Boxxer stablemate Parker.
"I'm game as badger. That's what I've been saying all week, I'm here for it." Clarke said on the live broadcast after watching Parker toil.
"I have a lot of respect for Joseph Parker and his team and what he's done, but it's about time I give myself the credit, I know what I can do."
Don't let Clarke's lack of pro experience fool you. The 31-year-old is a decorated amateur – winning bronze at the Tokyo Olympics – and has compiled a perfect record in the paid ranks, albeit against some soft opposition.
It remains to be seen whether promoter Ben Shalom would want to throw the two top heavyweights in his stable with each other so quickly, before Clarke has even been tested.
Expect this one to happen further down the line, when Parker has fewer options on the table.
I'm not truly "back" - just wanted to comment quickly.
The fact is, going back YEARS, I think I have only seen one truly impressive fight from Parker - and that was Chisora II.
That's it. He has looked mediocre in EVERY OTHER fight. He is turning me into a total NON-FAN - and many other people also.
Is it possible he may get a title shot after Fury and Usyk retire? Sure, but why support such mediocrity? Where is all this going??