Parker to thrive on hostile reception
The cheers will quickly turn to jeers but Joseph Parker will thrive on the hostilities in the Manchester Arena when he fights local hero Hughie Fury.
That’s the firm belief of Parker’s trainer Kevin Barry as the Kiwi heavyweight’s UK debut in his WBO world title defence looms ever closer.
Parker arrived in Manchester from London yesterday and was given a surprisingly warm welcome as he went through a public workout in a ring set up in a busy downtown restaurant zone.
But walking into the ring on fight night will be another matter.
‘‘It’s going to be hostile out there,’’ Barry predicted.
‘‘We know that the Manchester fans are very supportive of their locals and I expect them to really get behind Hughie. There will be a lot of jeers and boos when we come out, but that’s what we expect, that’s what we have prepared for.’’
Barry backed Parker to not only deal with it but use it to his advantage.
‘‘We will thrive off that. Everyone who knows Joe and has watched him on this journey, they know how relaxed he is, they know how he operates,’’ Barry said.
‘‘Joe is a not a fighter that gets anxious, he’s not a fighter that suffers from nerves, he’s somebody that relishes the pressure, who will smile all the way to the ring like he always does and when that bell goes, the switch will turn and the animal will come out.’’
The occasion and the stakes at risk were obvious.
‘‘We have waited for a long time to fight here in the UK and this is the beginning of a lot of further business here,’’ Barry said.
‘‘It’s very, very important that we enjoy this experience, that Joe grows from this experience, but most importantly that we have a very good performance on Saturday night.’’
The Parker camp maintain there quest for a knockout win to emphasise their point. ‘‘We can win the fight on points but I plan on winning by knockout. That’s what we have trained to do, that’s what Joe wants to do,’’ Barry said.
Joseph Parker charmed the Manchester crowd on his arrival, getting a friendly reception as he went through the motions in a public workout in the city centre.
A crowd of around 200 were on hand to greet the WBO champion ahead of his world title defence against Hughie Fury on Saturday night (Sunday NZ time).
A ring was set up in a busy restaurant area for Parker to strut his stuff and Fury and his father and trainer Peter got up close and personal as Parker went through some shadow boxing and skipping.
It was just a formality for Parker, obliging the local promoters, but he certainly won over a few locals with his smile and interaction during and after the fight, chatting with fans and obliging with selfies.
It will be a different scene in the Manchester Arena on fight night, but it was a warming introduction to this city where they are wildly parochial, whether it be football or boxing.
‘‘It has been a friendly reception. There hasn’t been a bad thing said about us that I know of,’’ Parker said, stepping out of the ring not long after transferring north by rail from London.
‘‘I thought there would have been a little bit of animosity but it seems the people of Manchester are friendly – for now. We’ll see.’’
Parker enjoyed the occasion, though it was a little low-key for a fight of this magnitude.
‘‘We haven’t done this a lot but with big fights they put on public training sessions for people to come and watch.
‘‘I feel like there is a bit of a buzz.’’
As for Fury turning up early to have a peep at him, Parker brushed it off.
‘‘That was good. I think he wanted to see what we are doing good and what we are doing bad, but we didn’t give him much to see. Not a loft of training, just keeping it simple.’’
Parker continued his confident buildup amidst Fury’s strong talk of winning the title back for his family.
‘‘I back my power, I back my chin and I back my speed. I’m looking forward to getting in the ring and giving him a KO,’’ Parker said.
‘‘He can talk and give himself confidence with what he says, but we’ll see on Saturday night.
‘‘This is very important for me, this is our chance to show what we are made of ... our team and how we operate. It’s time for us to dominate here.’’
Parker said he was happy with the refereeing development with Terry O’Connor removed, even though he was replaced by another British ref in Marcus O’Donnell.
‘‘It’s fantastic, our team did a great job. We all want to box on an even playing field, it’s good.’’
Asked about O’Connor now being a judge, Parker said: ‘‘I don’t want to leave it in his hands.
‘‘Maybe he will be in a bad mood and the card’s maybe scored before the fight, I don’t know. But I’m going to focus on feeling good, staying focused and beat him up.’’
Parker’s trainer Kevin Barry felt the occasion had served its purpose in introducing Parker to the locals.
‘‘It was never my intention for Joe to hit pads here today. It was just an appearance, a bit of a shakedown, a chance for Joe to do some media and talk to some of the fans ... just feel good about being here in Manchester,’’ Barry said.
He wasn’t surprised to see the Furys turn up early to observe their opponent.
‘‘It’s good for them to be here. I know when Tyson [Fury] fought [Wladimir] Klltschko, Peter and Tyson were sitting ringside watching Klitschko work out. So if he was going to do it for a fight of that magnitude, he would definitely be here today.’’
Fury also took things light and bright when he made his appearance in the ring, raising a loud cheer from the crowd.
‘‘I don’t think he can handle me. I know, truly, he can’t,’’ he told his fans of Parker.