Parker’s last-minute opponent set to get big payday
Romanian challenger Razvan Cojanu will collect the biggest payday of his career but insists his decision to take on Joseph Parker for the WBO heavyweight title in Auckland next week has nothing to do with money.
Cojanu is more known for his work as a sparring partner than any headline feats in the ring. The 30-year-old has fashioned a 16-2 record since turning pro in 2011his last loss coming via a second round KO against 12-3 American Donovan Dennis.
Ranked 78 by BoxRec’s independent rankings, Cojanu owes his place at 14th in the WBO to a win last December over China’s Zhi Yu Wu, who lost his last two fights.
Prior to arriving in New Zealand, Cojanu collected pay cheques as a sparring partner for American Charles Martin (24-1), Russian Alexander Povetkin (31-1) and Britain’s Dillian Whyte (20-1).
But his physique does not suggest he is ready to last the distance with Parker - and, despite his obvious 2.2m size, a 50 per cent KO rate also infers he is not a noted power puncher.
Cojanu last sparred 10 rounds two weeks ago but had no hesitation jumping at the chance to challenge Parker, despite accepting the fight 13 days out after Hughie Fury pulled the pin.
After a light afternoon workout in Auckland yesterday, following a session of eight rounds of three minute sprints in the morning, Cojanu confirmed he would earn his largest purse – understood to be six-figures – against Parker but did not reveal figures.
‘‘Yes it is,’’ he said. ‘‘But it is not about the money. Even if I get the call to take a title shot with a one dollar purse I would take it. Why? Every fighter trains to fight for a championship belt so how can I say no? Now you want me to tell you about the money. Ask the promoter. It is not crazy money.
‘‘It is better [than sparring] but I’m not here for that. I’m here to take the belt. Many of the newspapers from the USA and my country they don’t see me as a great challenger for Parker. I know myself from the camp and I know Parker very well. Now I will not say I’ve got all the tools to fight Parker but I’m going to prove that I can cause a shock.
‘‘After this fight I believe I am going to get many phone calls. I want to prove many of those guys wrong next week.’’
Parker and Cojanu sparred over 44 rounds in the lead-up to what they thought would be a title defence against Fury. Cojanu claims he flummoxed Parker at times by switching between orthodox and southpaw and suggested he would attempt the same tactics in his bid to steal the title.
‘‘It was working. I even hit him. That’s what I’m going to do next week. I will stay relaxed. You will not have only one fighter you will have two or three different styles in this fight. Whether I start easy or rough you’re going to see it. It will be exciting.’’
Asked to rate Parker’s power compared to Martin, Povetkin and Whyte, Cojanu said: ‘‘I’m a gentleman - Joe’s power is good. It’s okay. I believe in my power and my skills and I know Joe. I feel like I am prepared. This is a title shot and I’m going to give my life in the ring. I will say it again, you guys will be shocked.’’