‘Something magic is going to happen’
A fit and confident Joseph Parker says Anthony Joshua is bringing out the best in him and believes ‘‘some magic is going to happen’’.
Parker has arrived in London to taper his training for his March
1 unification fight in Cardiff when he puts his WBO world heavyweight title on the line and Joshua brings his IBF and WBA belts.
A strenuous eight-week training camp in Las Vegas has Parker in obvious good shape and certainly in the right mental space.
Taking on an unbeaten fighter who has knocked out all 20 of his opponents and become a firm favourite has motivated the
26-year-old Kiwi to levels he hasn’t been before.
‘‘It’s certainly fair to say that this challenge of Joshua is bringing something out in me that I haven’t felt previously,’’ Parker told
Boxing Scene.
‘‘I didn’t know if it was true before, that facing someone so dangerous changes something within you and takes you to a higher level, but I can definitely say that it does.
‘‘Everyone knows I’ve got the ability to fight 12 rounds, but now I want to show people that I can fight at a hard pace as well.’’
Parker talked up his time in Vegas where he lost weight and added new dimensions to his training programme.
‘‘I’m now a lot leaner, I’ve got more energy, I’ve got more power and I’m moving a lot better,’’ Parker said.
‘‘When you’re following the plan, when you’re eating well and you’re getting your rest everything just clicks and the mind is affected big time. When you don’t follow the plan one hundred percent you have this little bit of doubt in your mind.
‘‘But for this fight I don’t feel any of that. I know I’ve done everything possible and now I’m just looking forward to fighting and handing out a whipping.
‘‘My body is feeling fitter, I can work with more intensity, I feel like there is some magic that is going to happen.’’
Parker brings his own unbeaten record into the fight, earned over 24 fights with 18 KOs and some intense 12 round victories that he believes will serve him well for this toughest of examinations.
He feels he will be a unique opponent for Joshua but concedes he will need to be at a career-best in terms of performance to get past the big Brit. He wants to justify the constant ravings of his trainer Kevin Barry who says he sees so much good stuff in the gym and at sparring from Parker.
‘‘I don’t believe Joshua has ever seen a style like mine so yeah 100 per cent, now is the time to deliver my very best performance. Against an opponent like Joshua I’ll certainly need it,’’ Parker said.
‘‘Right now I’m very happy and you know the saying, a happy fighter is a dangerous fighter. It’s also time to show everyone that Kevin isn’t talking crap. I want to back up what he says and show the public the fighter that he sees in the gym, otherwise they are going to think New Zealanders are crazy.’’
Parker reiterated that he was excited rather than daunted at the prospect of fighting in front of as many as 80,000 boxing fans who will cram into Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. It’s nothing new for Joshua who has had mega crowds at Wembley and Cardiff to draw on.
‘‘You have to prepare for it, but I’m also very relaxed by nature. It’s the way I’ve been brought up, the way my parents have raised me. Church and faith also play a role,’’ Parker said, adding that he had personal experiences that had helped him steel for this in terms of what might play out in the ring.
‘‘I’ve been through some dark moments in fights, the busted eardrum against Nascimento and a nasty gash from a headbutt in the Tatupu fight and come through the other side. It all gives me confidence that I can do this. Honestly I don’t care about the size of the crowd, I don’t care about anything else but me and him once the bell rings.’’
Parker had a London gym session to get over his long flight and then went to watch promising young British heavyweight Joe Joyce demolish American Donnie Palmer in 38s at a boxing card in the city promoted by David Haye whom Team Parker know well and may use his facilities over the next week or so before transferring to Cardiff.
Parker was having yesterday off with Barry planning a solid training session to start the week in the British capital.