Handshakes out as Parker put in cotton wool
Handshakes have been replaced by knuckle bumps as Joseph Parker takes every precaution to preserve his health and fitness ahead of his world heavyweight title unification fight with Anthony Joshua.
Parker is in prime condition for the April 1 (NZT) clash in Cardiff and trainer Kevin Barry is desperate to keep him that way as they settle into the chilly British weather and busy boxing environment.
Parker has gone from a twomonth Las Vegas training camp in temperatures of around 24 degrees Celsius to wafts of snow and singledigit temperatures in London.
He’s under orders to dress as warmly as possible and to avoid hand contact with people.
‘‘We’re wrapping him up in cotton wool, making him wear gloves, not letting him shake hands with people. He’s doing the knuckles with everyone. I don’t want any germs or bugs being passed around,’’ Barry explained to Stuff.
Precautions are also being being taken with food at Parker’s London hotel, though Barry is comfortable with the spot..
‘‘We have stayed at this hotel four times now. I think you can be a little over-paranoid but we are not doing anything that is risky at all.’’
Parker has his breakfast at the restaurant but his lunches and dinners are brought in from a private company.
He has settled in well and keeps up a busy training schedule in the British capital, sparring with American Malik Scott yesterday. He will squeeze in one more sparring session before they transfer to Cardiff next week.
‘‘We’ve had a very good start, I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve seen in the gym since we’ve been here, Joe is firing,’’ Barry said.
Aside from sparring, Parker has been running in the mornings, doing round work on the pads in the gym. There have also been deep tissue massage sessions, all designed to maintain the hard work Parker has put in at Vegas.
There have been plenty of media requests since arriving on British soil but Barry is being very selective with those now and doing many himself in order to give his fighter the space he feels he needs at this stage of preparations.
Parker has received heavy coverage in the wide-ranging UK media, from respected mastheads to tabloids. Yesterday a lengthy piece about him aired on BBC TV.
‘‘Every single day people are reaching out but we have worked the media very hard the last two months, over and beyond,’’ Barry said.
‘‘I’m trying to keep Joe away from this as much as possible now.
‘‘At the moment it is just resting, relaxing and doing training.’’