Former world champion says Parker ‘in the zone’ for title fight
It takes one to know one and David Haye likes the championship qualities Joseph Parker is showing in and out of the ring ahead of the world heavyweight unification fight with Anthony Joshua.
WBO champ Parker and IBF and WBA champ Joshua clash in Cardiff on Sunday with all their titles on the line.
Haye, who unified the world cruiserweight titles in 2008 and stepped up to win the WBA heavyweight title the following year, has followed Parker’s rapid rise closely and has allowed the Kiwi team to use his London gym during their regular visits to Britain over the past year.
The 37-year-old Haye, looking super fit as he comes back from injury for a rematch with fellow Brit Tony Bellew, likes the space that Parker is in just days out from the fight.
‘‘He looks cool, calm, collected and in the zone,’’ Haye, who has seen plenty of Parker over the last week, told Stuff between fights on the Dillian Whyte-Lucas Browne card where he was helping with TV analysis.
‘‘Of all the times that I’ve met Joseph, he looks as well prepared as ever this time around.
‘‘He looks super lean … there is no unnecessary excess that he is carrying which is testament to the hard graft that Kevin Barry and his son Taylor have been putting him through.’’
Haye has witnessed a growing maturity about Parker with the way he conducts himself outside the ring and with his presence and he feels that will be crucial with the size of the task in front of the 26-year-old Kiwi.
‘‘He’s looking a lot more confident now that he has defended his title numerous occasions.
‘‘He always rises to the occasion and it doesn’t get any bigger than this. If he could do this, he could go down as one of the greatest sportsmen from New Zealand … this is the big one, it really doesn’t get any bigger,’’ Haye said of the two young unbeaten heavyweights going toe-to-toe in front of 80,000 fans at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Parker is a massive underdog with the bookmakers and a victory would represent one of the biggest upsets in the long history of the storied division, especially given Joshua’s huge profile in Britain and around the globe.
‘‘There’s no doubt about that. A few people may not have recognised the name Parker as much as AJ, particularly in the UK, but if he can get that win he will be a household name over here … it will go through the roof.’’
Haye noted a swell of support building behind Parker as fight night closes in. ‘‘A lot of people are thinking he can win,’’ Haye said. Haye, who had to overcome massive physical advantages in weight, height and reach to beat Nicolai Valuev to win his world heavyweight crown, says it is crucial for Parker to stick to his game plan.