No miracle makeover for Joseph Parker
OPINION: This was no miracle makeover, just a bit of a quick polish, as Joseph Parker’s supposed reinvention ended in a lucky escape in Manchester.
Parker’s split decision win over the rugged Dereck Chisora was as unconvincing for the performance as it was for the result.
The calls of ‘‘robbery’’ may have been a bit harsh in a fight that was difficult to score at times because of the claustrophobic style of Chisora. I scored it 114-113 for Chisora, who I felt claimed the tight 12th round to take the result with the help of the extra point for his first round knockdown of Parker.
If Chisora had won, Parker would now have been written off as a force. Instead, he survives to circle the top ranks of the division though he still has questions hanging over him that this gutsy performance didn’t really answer.
Seven weeks was never really enough for coach Andy Lee to imprint his influence on 29-yearold Parker and, as his trainer suspected, the Kiwi was guilty of reverting to some of his bad old habits as the pressure increased.
To have Parker admit after the fight that he had strayed from the game plan at times, was a repeat of many of his recent efforts under his long-term coach Kevin Barry.
There was no real evidence of increased menace in his punches as both Parker and Lee had promised ahead of the fight. Chisora soaked up everything flung at him.
And there were concentration lapses too, alarming ones at either end of the fight.
To be knocked down after seven seconds was inexcusable for Parker who knew Chisora would come at him like a raging bull from the opening bell.
Then to ignore an open chance to finish a dazed Chisora on the ropes in the final round defied belief. It wasn’t all bad from Parker.
His conditioning was superb, and it needed to be, as he soaked up Chisora’s relentless pressure.
There were flashes of his renowned hand speed resurfacing as he flicked off some telling combinations over the back half of the fight.
His heart and resilience can’t be denied as he worked his way back into the fight from that first round shock.
But right now he still looks a step down from the top tier of the division, just as he did before.
Parker will push on with Lee as he should. There is promise in their partnership that hopefully time will fully reveal.
But they should think twice about their instant acceptance of a rematch with Chisora. It was all honourable in the heat of the moment when the questionable result had just been announced.
What point is there to that, unless the money is ridiculous? Take this win and move on. Boxing is littered with controversial results.
To spend another potential 12 rounds at close range with
Chisora makes little sense other than giving him the chance to right his supposed wrong.
As Matchroom Boxing kingpin Eddie Hearn said of Chisora: ‘‘He’s an absolute nuisance, horrible to fight.’’
There must be better options for Parker to push his cause. He has lost too much time and opportunity over the past two years to tread water again, now that he has set up camp in the UK.
A rematch with Dillian Whyte would hold more public appeal.
Andy Ruiz’s rusty return to the ring (he was knocked down in the second round by Chris Arreola but got up to win on points in his weekend comeback fight) presents a juicy promotional opportunity.
Parker would be better to push hard for a WBO eliminator against Joe Joyce who slipped past him in that organisation’s rankings in questionable terms.
Daniel Dubois still lurks in the British scene Parker now envelops and Michael Hunter is a name on the title fringes worthy of combat.