Unaccustomed underdog role fuelling Parker
Joseph Parker is relishing his first role as an underdog.
Written off by the bookmakers in New Zealand and the UK and being dismissed in future world heavyweight unification plans, the 26-year-old Kiwi is using the snubs as motivation to produce the best performance of his life when he takes on Anthony Joshua in Cardiff on April 1 (NZT).
Unbeaten over 24 fights, WBO champion Parker has always been a heavy favourite every time he has entered the ring.
That won’t be the case against Joshua, who has knocked out all 20 of his opponents on the way to winning and defending the IBF and WBA belts.
The New Zealand TAB have Joshua a huge favourite at $1.12 to Parker’s $5.50 and the UK bookies are thinking similar.
While many pundits in the game are screaming for a Joshua versus Deontay Wilder fight down the line – Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is already putting plans in place to make that happen – Parker has his head down in Las Vegas plotting an upset.
‘‘We don’t care about being the underdog, we don’t care about people not talking about us. We have one focus ... we have a chance to unify the division and, trust me, we are going to make the most of this chance,’’ Parker told Britain’s specialist boxing channel IFL TV when they visited his camp this week.
He promised not to be overawed by the occasion which will see up to 80,000 people packed into Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
‘‘I’m taking it as any other fight. It’s just another boxing ring and another opponent who just happens to be one of the best fighters in the world.
‘‘It’s extra motivation, extra drive to go out there and put in the best performance of my life.’’
Parker believes he is already responding to the challenge as he nears the end of his Vegas buildup.
‘‘Fighting the best brings out the best in me, I feel like this camp is different to other camps,’’ he said.
‘‘The last year wasn’t the best year, it wasn’t the best performances and no excuses for that, it just wasn’t a good year.
‘‘But I’m ready to show everyone a different side and what I can actually do in the ring, what I’m capable of doing.
‘‘It’s not going to be an easy task because I’m fighting an undefeated fighter who is also determined to be the unified champion.
‘‘I have a lot of respect for him and what he has achieved in his career and his team and what they have done. But I think it’s our time.
‘‘I love challenges. I’m amped, I can’t wait for it.’’
Parker predicts a see-sawing fight in a battle of wits and durability.
‘‘I know it’s going to be a tough fight. It’s going to go back and forth ... it’s going to go this way and it’s going to go that way,’’ he told IFL TV.
‘‘I’ve seen weaknesses we can capitalise on and I’ve seen his strengths. I know he will see the same with me. It’s like every fight ... every fighter has strengths and weaknesses.
‘‘It’s about how you execute your plan and who puts on the pressure and who folds under pressure. It depends who deals with pressure better.’’