Parker bites back

Frustrated heavyweight exclusively reveals story behind spider that floored him. By Duncan Johnstone.

Asmall purple spot above Joseph Parker’s right knee is a nagging reminder of how quickly things can change. It’s all that’s left of the suspected spider’s bite that cost him a chance to get back into the heavyweight title talk. Parker was due to fight Britain’s Dereck Chisora in London this weekend. Instead, he’s still in Las Vegas and finally back into training, desperately looking for a replacement fight before the end of the year, but not holding out great hopes of that.

Parker has opened up on the dramatic turn of events, speaking of his immense frustrations.

‘‘I left New Zealand with a little hole in my leg, like someone had put a cigarette out on it and I had no idea how I got it,’’ Parker revealed.

‘‘I didn’t think much of it as I was feeling great — I felt like I’d taken my training to the next level at home and I arrived in camp in great shape.

‘‘I was so excited about fighting Chisora because we had chased this fight for so long.’’

He began getting concerned once he started the sparring phase of his camp.

‘‘My energy levels were just zapped. We had been sparring six to eight rounds and then I couldn’t complete two rounds.’’

Parker was also having trouble sleeping, he was sweating a lot, and having bad body cramps around his stomach and neck.

Taken to a doctor, the spider bite theory emerged, as they struggled to find the exact source of the problem. Parker underwent blood tests, was given medication and ordered to take three weeks rest.

It was a dark time for him, his consolation being that he had his partner and three young children with him to help him through it.

He was also feeling bad about letting down his new British promoter, Eddie Hearn, at Matchroom Boxing. This was to be Parker’s second bout in a three-fight deal, a huge opportunity on a big stage, and he knew the impact his late withdrawal would have on the promotion.

Under normal circumstances, Parker said he would have returned home. But his team felt the best policy was to stay in Las Vegas, recover and get back into training to be ready for a call to action.

Cleared to train again, Parker says he is now ‘‘100 per cent’’ into it, though he isn’t sparring because he doesn’t have an opponent to prepare for.

Getting another fight before the end of the year is becoming increasingly difficult.

‘‘It’s proving really hard to get something locked in — there just doesn’t seem to be anything out there at the moment.

‘‘. . . it has shown me how tough it is if you miss an opportunity.’’

If Chisora wins against David Price today, there is hope that fight could be resurrected. Chisora has aired a willingness to give Parker another go.

It would be highly marketable. Parker has heard Chisora’s taunts about the Kiwi ‘‘bitching out’’ of the fight.

‘‘I know what he has been saying and that just makes me want to punch his face in even more.

‘‘I’ll chase anyone. I’m in a position now where I have to. I will fight Dereck Chisora, Dillian Whyte or anyone, as long as it makes sense.’’

There is a British date in late December that might offer an opportunity, otherwise Parker is resigned to holding off until February.

That would mean a disastrous 2019 after he lost his WBO title to Anthony

Joshua last year and was then controversially beaten by Whyte in

London. He rebounded to see off

American-Mexican Alexander

Flores inside three rounds late last year.

He then got signed by Hearn, but has only fought Australian

Alex Leapai this year, earning a

10th-round stoppage in June to take his career to 26-2.

But now a spider appears to have done what most boxers couldn’t by flooring the big Kiwi.