— if I do something that disappoints them, I want to hide’

more than just personal glory. Becoming New Zealand’s first heavyweight champion in 2016 by winning the WBO title in Auckland was — as he puts it — “for the whole of New Zealand”.

“I was proud to be a New Zealand Samoan and put them on the map,” he says. “Now we’ve got the opportunity to unify the belts and that’s pretty amazing.

“I think it’s in our blood. We’re a warrior nation. It’s part of the culture. But we only want to fight if it means something.”

This fight certainly does. Parker stands to earn $13.5 million for his efforts, and should treble that in the event of a rematch if he wins.

He has met Joshua socially once before, at the Azerbaijan World Championships in 2011, with the Briton going on to win a silver medal.

It was a significant moment for Parker, who decided to leave New Zealand and make his home in Las Vegas to work alongside Kevin Barry, now his mentor.

“I always believed I’d be world champion, I just didn’t know when,” he says. “My dad believed it as well. There’s a reason why I’m down this path.

“We’ve got the opportunity to unify the belts and a lot of New Zealanders who didn’t know about boxing or follow boxing know about it now. That’s pretty amazing.

“Everyone says you’re going to have stage fright and be nervous walking out in front of so many people, but I’m so blessed and grateful to have a team around me who keep me grounded.”

Focused, too. There has been little of the trash-talk which so often accompanies big fights. Instead, Parker is quietly respectful of Joshua, as a fighter and a man.

“He’s similar to me — a gentleman. We both respect each other, but we know what we want.”

Just before his lonely walk to the ring on Sunday, he will embrace his parents, and think of the reason he is putting himself through all this.

“What I wanted as a young boy was to look after my family, because of the hard work they have put into me. So I want to buy a home for my parents. Just a normal home,” Parker says.

“I want to help everyone who has looked after me and helped me.”