Confident Russian giant ready to show Parker he isn’t slow
A gentle giant outside the ring, Alexander Dimitrenko is promising to be more than another stepping stone for Joseph Parker.
Dimitrenko, the 2.01m veteran who identifies with Russia and not Ukraine due to the conflict between the two Eastern European countries, made his first appearance in New Zealand on Wednesday ahead of the October 1 fight in Manukau.
Selected as the second-to-last training run on the road to a world title shot for Parker, Dimitrenko is out to belie his status.
The 34-year-old wasn’t about to make any bold predictions, notably saying: ‘‘I can make a lot of loud statements about this fight but if you do that when it comes to the ring you can go in your pants so it’s easier to handle it when it happens then and there. This is a problem for many of American fighters. They talk too much. I will let my fists do the talking in the ring.’’
Dimitrenko did, however, bristle when his boxing style was called slow. While he boasts an eight centimetre height and 18cm reach advantage, Parker’s hand speed will be far superior.
‘‘I am fast enough and those people can watch my fights. I’m not slow, I amfast too and I’m looking forward to winning this fight.’’
Like many before him, Dimitrenko claimed expectation would weigh heavily on Parker’s shoulders, with his mandatory IBF title shot against Anthony Joshua next year on the line.
‘‘There’s no pressure on me specifically. Parker will have a lot more pressure. I have nothing to lose.’’
There won’t be any surprises in the way Dimitrenko’s approach. He’s not a noted power puncher and, thus, will be expected to try to point his way to victory from the outside with his long limbs. He was reluctant to talk tactics, saying his biggest weapon was ‘‘quick thinking’’ but also claimed he had fought, and defeated, better opponents than Parker in his 38-2 career.
Dimitrenko singled out Luan Krasniqi (30-4-1,) Timo Hoffmann (40-9-2) and Albert Sosnowski (49-7-2).