No-quit attitude, work ethic has heavyweight Joseph Parker on brink of Kiwi sporting history

Sunday, 8 December 2024

Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker has rebuilt his reputation and now gets another crack at a world title in Saudi Arabia in February.

Punching power is one thing, but Joseph Parker’s backers believe staying power, aligned with cool-headed experience and sheer bloody-minded determination, has the heavyweight boxer on the cusp of carving Kiwi sporting history in Riyadh next February.

After this week’s announcement that the 32-year-old Parker had been lined up for a February 22 crack at IBF world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in Saudi Arabia, the boxing world has been abuzz with chat about a matchup seen as an intriguing clash of styles.

The fight might only head a stacked undercard to the Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol clash for the undisputed world light heavyweight championship, but pundits are united in labelling the New Zealander’s crack at a second heavyweight world title against the rising British star of the division as befitting headline status.

For Parker it represents a second chance he feared might never come, eight years after he lifted his first heavyweight world title (with a knife-edge points decision over Mexican Andy Ruiz in Auckland), but was soon after cast into boxing purgatory following consecutive defeats to Brits Antonhy Joshua and Dillian Whyte in 2018.

However Parker has slowly, steadily and stealthily rebuilt his reputation and CV, despite a further setback against Joe Joyce in 2022, and rides a five-fight win streak into his bid to become a two-time world heavyweight champion, including signature victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.

“I don’t think anyone would argue that Joseph hasn’t earned this world title shot through sheer dogged determination, never quitting, hard work, changing his recipe and strategy, learning the hard way, improving, and then winning in the ring. He’s had some very big wins recently,” Parker’s manager David Higgins told the Star-Times.

Joseph Parker has rebuilt his reputation with a victory over, among others, big-hitting American Deontay Wilder.

“I would go as far as to say if he beats Daniel Dubois and becomes a two-time world champion it could be the greatest achievement in New Zealand sporting history, or certainly the most difficult achievement.

“It’s a treacherous game, inside and outside the ring, Joseph is a veteran at 32. He’s fought Carlos Tackham, Andy Ruiz, Derek Chisora twice, Dillian Whyte, Anthony Joshua, Joe Joyce, Deonte Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. Our team thinks that gives Joseph an advantage – the number of rounds on the big stage under the glare of world media is substantially greater than Mr Dubois.”

Parker believes he is in the best condition of his career, after spending the last year refining body and craft under the guidance of American nutritionist and trainer George Lockhart who moved to New Zealand to firm the partnership. He recently tucked away a camp with head trainer Andy Lee in Dublin and will return there mid-December to commence preparations for the Dubois fight.

The Aucklander is also adamant he is a smarter, more equipped and more dedicated boxer than he was last time around at the pointy end of the heavyweight division, when he wrested the WBO crown off Ruiz, negotiated a couple of comfortable defences and then coughed it up to Joshua.

Higgins concurs, calling Parker’s re-dedication to his craft impressive. It was a big part of the Saudi moneymen and Dubois’ backers (Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions) accepting the fight.

“It’s not just about the money,” said Higgins of a fight that will come in around the fourth biggest payday of the Kiwi’s career. “It’s about winning the world title. Joseph is hungry. The first title came so quick and he was so young, it was a bit of a blur. This time I think he fully appreciates the magnitude of the achievement and what's on the line.

“The difference between success and failure in boxing is a massive delta. You lose and you’re at the bottom of the scrapheap again. Win, and you’re king of the world. Joseph relishes this opportunity, he’s worked incredibly hard for it, is focused like never before, and is at the peak of his powers.

Joseph Parker has worked hard under the guidance of trainer/nutritionist George Lockhart to get himself in the shape of his life.

“He’s going there to dominate Daniel Dubois and become a two-time world champion. Then he’s not done. He will want to win the other three heavyweight belts and become the undisputed world champion. That’s the ultimate goal.”

Of course, the 27-year-old Dubois is worthy of healthy respect, with clear punching power (he has a 95% knockout rate over 22 victories from 24 fights). Though Higgins cautions about reading too much into his five-round demolition of Joshua in September at Wembley.

“Daniel is a walk-forward, pressure-on, come-to-fight boxer who is on a roll,” said Parker’s manager. “He’s young and hungry and he’s on a rampage. I don’t think Daniel will have any fear of Joseph Parker.

“But I’d argue Joshua made Dubois look better than he is. Joshua was a shadow of his former self. He didn’t want to be in the ring, and had that look in his eyes. Joseph certainly won’t be capitulating like Joshua did.”

Higgins gives Parker one other key edge.

“He’s cool as a cucumber. Most of us, if we had to walk into a boxing ring to fight Wilder, we’d look scared or angry or agitated. Joseph is relaxed and smiling from the press conference, to faceoffs, to the dressing-room. It’s like it’s his destiny. He walks out there like we would going to the ice-cream shop. The opponent will find an air of confidence from Joseph that is a bit disconcerting.”