Cool Parker ditches ice baths for cryogenic chamber
Joseph Parker has dismissed the prospect of asking Tyson Fury to spar with him ahead of his heavyweight title boxing fight against Anthony Joshua.
New Zealander Parker, currently based in Las Vegas to prepare for the unification title fight at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on April 1, might be on good terms with the controversial Fury, but said he won’t trade secrets in the ring to help keep him him sharp ahead of the bout in the Welsh capital.
Recently former heavyweight champion Fury offered to assist with Parker with his training, to help him lift the IBF and WBA belts off Englishman Joshua.
However Kevin Barry, the trainer of WBO champion Parker, said it wouldn’t make sense to ask Fury to spar with Parker when they arrived in the United Kingdom prior to the fight.
‘‘With two weeks out we don’t need to be getting in the ring with a six-feet nine [inches] Tyson Fury,’’ Barry told Sky Sports. ‘‘But Tyson is a great friend of our team and we appreciate all the support that he gives us.
‘‘But that doesn’t work out for us. Once we hit English soil we will be in a tapering-off phase, we may spar a couple of four-rounders but it will be against somebody sixfoot six – someone who looks and fights a bit like Joshua.’’
Parker, though, said it could still benefit him to have Fury around ahead of the muchanticipated stoush which is expected to be staged in front of 80,000 fans.
‘‘It could work in our favour, because I think there is a lot of dislike between the two even though they respect each other as boxers,’’ Parker said.
‘‘Like Kevin said he is a great friend of our team, we like having him around and he is a fun person to hang out with.’’
Joshua has settled into a routine in Las Vegas, mixing his morning runs with sessions in the ring, as well as having intensive physiotherapy and cryotherapy.
‘‘It is a lot better than an ice bath, you get an instant result,’’ Parker told Sky Sports from a cryogenic chamber. ‘‘It helps inflammation, it helps with any soreness in the body and it helps with recovery. That’s why we do it nearly every day.
‘‘Before we came to camp I sat down with Kev [Barry] and we made a plan, which we thought would be ideal. We are happy with how it has gone so far, happy with what the future holds … putting in the work.
‘‘He has covered everything down to physio, muscular work, mental coach and him coaching and looking after meals.’’
Parker also said he would no hesitation in landing more blows to search for a knockout victory if Joshua starts to wobble in the 12-round bout.
‘‘I wouldn’t give him the chance to recover. I will be in there and I will pounce, and try to get him out of there as fast as I can.’’
He was adamant he wouldn’t be intimidated a massive crowd, the vast majority who will be cheering on Joshua.
‘‘A lot of people think we are going to freeze because we haven’t really experienced the big crowd, but I think there is only pressure if you put pressure on yourself,’’ Parker added. ‘‘I am relaxed and calm.