Sin City heavenly for Parker
Sin City has its distractions but Joseph Parker has learned to avoid them and believes it is the perfect place to prepare for the biggest fight of his life.
Parker leaves Las Vegas at the end of the week to transfer to Britain ahead of his world heavyweight unification fight with Anthony Joshua in Cardiff on April 1 (NZT).
Two weeks in the United Kingdom to taper his training and acclimatise will be the end of 10 gruelling weeks of physical torture and mental tests.
It’s a formula that has kept the
26-year-old unbeaten and led him to the WBO world heavyweight title, a belt that now has him in the unification mix.
Parker has grown to love Las Vegas since he teamed with trainer Kevin Barry, who has lived in the world’s boxing capital since the aftermath of New Zealand’s last appearance on this biggest of sporting stages with David Tua in
2000.
Vegas is Parker’s home away from home and Barry’s clan are his surrogate family while he’s in the United States.
He is as good as their adopted son, with Barry promising this fighter’s parents Dempsey and Sala he would always look after their young Joseph like one of his own.
There’s a comfort factor in their well-appointed house in a gated community on the outskirts of the famous desert city that he has appreciated ever since he moved in with the Barrys in 2013.
‘‘It’s a family environment, it’s peaceful and quiet. I can focus on boxing. A lot of people think Vegas is a distraction because Vegas is a place you come and party and have a good time. But in New Zealand I have more distractions because there are family, friends, invitations to different events and functions,’’ Parker explains.
‘‘So I love it here for the training and relaxing my mind and having time for myself. Vegas is where I can get downtime and focus on what I have to do.’’
Parker rarely makes a trip to the famous stretch of casinos and clubs known as ‘‘The Strip’’.
He gets one days off a week and occasionally they might venture there for a ‘‘reward meal’’ or to take in one of the latest shows or the regular boxing promotions.
But he’s more content to stay at home. He has a strong friendship with Barry’s son Taylor, who is involved in his training.
The house has a swimming pool and a big TV room. Parker’s bedroom is also his sanctuary where he keeps in touch with family back in New Zealand, the biggest sacrifice of splitting his time between countries. Regular Skype calls help him keep pace with the rapid development of his young daughter Elizabeth, now 16 months old.
Family is crucial to Parker and he likes the atmosphere he has established in Vegas.
‘‘Having that family environment in life is very important to keep you relaxed and calm,’’ he said.
Parker and Barry have modified their base over the past year to streamline their operation. They have built a gym close to the home that reduces travel time and has state-of-the-art facilities.
Barry is thrilled with the way that has worked out. This is the first time they have used the gym for fight preparation.
‘‘It’s given us another level of comfort. We are saving two hours a day travelling and that is invaluable for us. We’re feeling a good vibe there,’’ Barry said.