Parker staying positive

WELLINGTON: New Zealand boxer Joseph Parker says his mission to provide some positivity during the fight against Covid19 will continue.

The former heavyweight world title holder was in lockdown with his family at their home in Auckland.

Parker was also sharing his bubble with his personal videographer Kerry Russell, and during the past two weeks the pair had created a series of lighthearted videos for social media.

The three clips have featured appearances from the likes of Parker’s neighbour and Warriors captain Roger TuivasaSheck, Kiwi driver and fivetime IndyCar champion Scott Dixon and British boxing star Tyson Fury.

Parker said the thinking behind the videos was fairly simple.

‘‘Since we are all locked down, we wanted to come up with an idea to put a smile on people’s faces.

‘‘The whole goal is just to make people smile and give them something to laugh at because I know this time is a hard time for a lot of people, for everyone.’’

The latest of the videos features Parker and a host of stars mimicking, and dancing to, the hit song Build Me Up Buttercup.

Along with Fury and Dixon, the clip featured legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer, Six60 lead singer Matiu Walters and British rugby league player George Burgess.

Parker said while no new videos were organised just yet, he and Russell were keen to keep offering people some comic relief in a time of crisis.

‘‘As soon as we have something in mind we’ll start working on it and hopefully we can continue to put smiles on faces because when I watch it myself I’m like, ‘oh damn’, you know it’s pretty funny.

‘‘We’re getting a lot of good feedback so if there’s any ideas out there, chuck them our way.’’

Parker is working his way back to the top end of the highly competitive heavyweight division after losing his WBO world title belt to Anthony Joshua two years ago. — RNZ.