|
Joseph Parker
|
01-29-2025, 10:25 AM
Thanks bart, I'll have a look.
DDD is not handling the upcoming fight with JP, or Usyk well. Think he's out of his depth in interviews. Just hope it affects him next month against JP: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/da...t-34558944
02-01-2025, 06:17 PM
Thanks bart. Looking forward to watching them this evening.
02-02-2025, 10:35 AM
‘I’m a new fighter, a new person’: Joseph Parker shapes up for the Daniel Dubois challenge
Marc Hinton February 2, 2025 Joseph Parker says he’s never been in better shape, or better prepared, for what lies ahead against Daniel Dubois in Riyadh. Amid the bump and grind of preparing for the biggest moment of his life, Kiwi heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker received a nice little surprise in Dublin. It might not help him sit rising Brit Daniel Dubois on his backside in Riyadh in three weeks’ time, but it sure didn’t do any harm as he zeroes in on his shot at sporting immortality. Parker has been in Dublin since mid-December preparing, with chief mentor Andy Lee and training guru George Lockhart, for his fight against Dubois for the IBF world heavyweight title on February 23 (NZ time). They head to Saudi Arabia this weekend to complete the pointy end of the buildup, but it’s in the Irish capital where the real steel has been forged. The 33-year-old Auckland-based Kiwi-Samoan believes he is not only in the shape of his life, honed to a physical boxing peak that has him on the precipice of true greatness, but is also in a remarkably good place mentally. Part of that is sheer unadulterated confidence around work put in with Lockhart for most of last year, and with Lee for parts of it. But part of it is also the place this genuine, good-hearted New Zealander is at in his personal life. Family, as has been written before, is everything for Parker. And when the hard-hitting Kiwi received a surprise visit from wife Laine and their five children for New Year in Dublin, it literally put a spring in his step right when the grind was somewhere near its toughest. Parker has made time for a chat with the Star-Times from his Dublin stronghold just days before decamping to Riyadh for the final countdown to his tilt at becoming a two-time world heavyweight champion. Early in the conversation, he relates the lift when his family popped over to provide a much needed respite from the barrage of flying leather, hoisted tin and rubber hitting the road in full training camp mode. “I am more than ready,” declares Parker. “Camp has been tremendous, for a lot of reasons. We have a good structure, and we see improvements every day. We measure if we’re getting stronger, faster, fitter, if endurance is better, and we see how improved we are each day and each week. It’s only heading one way: to be in the best shape possible.” Parker had come to peace with a 10-week period without his family, but then a “beautiful moment” occurred … “My wife and kids flew up with my wife’s sister to surprise me. They spent four weeks here. Getting that balance of training, rest, recovery and seeing the family at the end of each day, giving them a hug and just knowing they’re close by … it gave me strength and a sense of calmness. “I’m a happy fighter because everything is so well balanced in my life. It’s a blessing for the kids to travel and experience the world. Boxing has given us so many opportunities, and it was so nice to have my kids close, to come to the gym and watch me train, and see how I’m preparing for this fight.” Joseph Parker: ‘I can see my sparring getting better, my movement getting better, and my workrate getting better.’ Parker makes one thing clear. His family’s presence compromised preparations not one iota. Remember, he’s been tracking for this fight since he outpointed Zhilei Zhang in March last year. He’s been through too much, and sacrificed too much, to allow that. “If it hindered my training or rest I would have had to say, ‘sorry guys, I can’t see you today’, But I was improving each week, and I’m still improving now. At the end of each day, spending an hour or two with them I think made a big difference,” It wasn’t just family support that buoyed Parker about a camp like no other. “In the past I would use camp as a way of getting in shape … but I’ve been working with George in New Zealand from April to September last year. We flew to Joshua’s fight with Dubois, then had a stint in Ireland for five weeks because we thought we’d be fighting in December, and a stint in America training with Jon Jones, the UFC heavyweight world champion. The biggest difference is in the building phase outside of camp: we worked on endurance, on aerobic capacity, on strength, power and speed. They’re all elements I never worked on before I started with George and Andy.” So, Dublin has become more of a finishing camp, than a building one. Parker smiles, and springs a tasty analogy. “This camp is the dessert. We’ve had the entree, the main meal, with all the big training sessions in New Zealand … now we’re applying the finishing touches. I can see my sparring getting better, my movement getting better, and my workrate getting better. It’s not just because of Dubois – whomever we were fighting was going to get this best version of myself.” He talks about the importance of these final three weeks, the work still to be done, and the shift as the fight draws closer from a physical peak to a mental one. “The main focus will be staying focused. In the past I’ve had lapses in fights … with this fight it’s very important to stay on task every second of every round.” Parker says his three defeats inform him big time for this fight. Against Joe Joyce illness compromised his physical readiness; against Dillian Whyte an early headbutt knocked him off track; and against Anthony Joshua he was too passive. “People say to me, ‘are you worried about Dubois?’ I’m not. I’m more worried about how I’m going to be fighting and how I’m going to portray myself. I need to establish what I want to achieve, instead of leaving it to him. “It’s a big challenge, and one I’m so up for. As a fighter, husband and father, I'm very happy, But being a father and husband is pushed to the side and the fighter is going to take over. I'm in a great place and, hopefully, how happy and excited I am shows out in the fight.” For an example of Parker’s focus, look no further than his take on Dubois’ bizarre challenge of Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh after the former’s second victory over Tyson Fury. Many thought it showed disrespect to the Kiwi, and was an indication that Dubois was already looking beyond him. “That’s not the type person Daniel is, jumping in the ring and calling people out,” shrugs Parker. ”Was he told to do this? I know he has a good team because they’ve had some great performances recently, and they know they need to prepare for the fight in front of him, and not the fight they want.” Parker has also spoken about a feeling he’s “only just begun” as a fighter. You ask him to extrapolate on that. He speaks about his near 12-year pro career, his “beautiful” relationship with Kevin Barry, their incredible journey to becoming heavyweight champion of the world for the first time, and then his move to Lee and Lockhart to search for the next level. “My passion for boxing left me. Now I understand what I’m doing every day. I’m more than ready. I absolutely love the sport, love the life, enjoy eating clean, training hard, resting, and I feel like I've only just begun now with all this experience behind me. I feel like a completely new fighter, and a new person.” Parker shrugs off ring rust as a factor – he fought just once in ‘24 – because of his work with Lockhart, and says he’s driven not by the result on February 23, but the process to get there. “I’m not worried. I’m not scared. I’m not nervous,” he declares. “I’m over the moon for the opportunity to fight for the championship of the world again. If everything goes well, it’s going to mean so much more than the first time.” History beckons. Parker’s manager says a second world title would be among New Zealand’s finest sporting achievements. Ever. Parker won’t be dazzled by the glare of the bright lights. “I want to grab this opportunity, to embrace it, take it in, to make the most of it. I want to give the best account of myself, and to fight the best fighters out there. I love it. I’m going to walk towards this challenge.” Tale of the tape Daniel Dubois (UK) IBF Heavyweight World Champion Record: 22-2 (21 wins by KO) Age: 27 Height: 1.96m Reach: 1.98m Joseph Parker (NZ) Former WBO Heavyweight World Champion Record: 35-3 (23 wins by KO) Age: 33 Height: 1.93m Reach: 1.93m
02-03-2025, 12:46 PM
Great listening. The other link you gave me was excellent in understanding the history behind JP and behind the scene for his fights. Watched it while on the elliptical this morning. Thanks heaps!
02-04-2025, 12:54 PM
Who is the host speaking to JP on the First Round interview? BTW, great interview. Saw the last part of it this morning. Interesting that JP balooned up to 125kg going into camp for most of his fights before coming down to 107kgs. That's an 18kg drop. I knew he was not dieting properly. He said the major part of camp was losing weight and getting in shape. Very similar to what Tua did with Kevin Barry. At least now he's got it right. Let's see how it translates to the fight with DDD.
02-04-2025, 01:21 PM
yeah maybe Barry didn't put much emphasis on the sports science side of training and let the fighter just enjoy their time off to excess then hammer them into shape in camp. A young fighter can get away with this but as you age its not feasible.
JP seems to be living the life of a pro athlete so fair play to him. Doesn't mean because of this he beats DD but certainly gives him a better shot. Being fitter and not over trained means, he can make better decisions under pressure and use his IQ - smarts over DD. This is as long as he doesn't get caught like AJ at the end of R1
02-04-2025, 06:09 PM
Barry did with JP what he did with Tua: getting upset when he comes into camp out of shape and then gets him in shape for the fight. I went to the LL/Tua fight camp in Vegas and there was a box of doughnuts in the kitchen. Both Barry and Tua lived there and there was a boxing ring in the garage. Not exactly living what you preach.
|
|
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »
|
