Knockout ticks box for Parker

A review of his knockout has New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker feeling much better about his comeback win over Shawndell Winters.

Parker knocked out the North American champion in spectacular fashion in the fifth round of their fight in Frisco, Texas, on Sunday.

The 28-year-old seemed strangely subdued immediately after the fight, preferring to focus on what he hadn’t done rather than the deadly flurry of punches that brought him a desperately needed statement finish.

But a few hours rest and some replays of the video had the former WBO champion feeling much more content as he boarded a plane back to New Zealand with his campaign to make more noise at the top end of the heavyweight division well on track.

‘‘I’m feeling fantastic. I feel fresh, clear-minded, I’m very happy,’’ Parker said, having enjoyed a quiet celebration with his team before returning to his hotel room to connect with his family back home.

‘‘I think I was a little hard on myself. I’m very happy . . . my first fight back in a long time and I got a good win.

‘‘When I watched the knockout it was good.

‘‘They were nice clean punches when I did land them, so I’m happy with the knockout.

‘‘Maybe I was a bit hard on myself but I always see room for improvement.’’

He felt he had achieved his goal for this fight, which took a while to tie down on the Matchroom card and had many questioning the quality of his smaller and older opponent.

‘‘You can always move around but the exciting knockouts are what get people looking at you thinking ‘he’s back now, he’s going to show what he can do in the division’.

‘‘The goal is to get knockouts, that’s what everyone wants.

‘‘When I showed a bit more patience and jabbed him and then sat him down with the right hand at times, it looked very nice.’’

Parker’s manager David Higgins met with Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn and CEO Frank Smith and reported they were very complimentary about Parker’s performance.

‘‘Everyone is tremendously happy. This fight was a great opportunity for us. Joseph took that opportunity and the good, warm, trusting relationship continues,’’ Higgins said of the Matchroom arrangement that still has one more fight on it.

Higgins said with the top of the division so fluid at the moment, there were important meetings coming up over the next two weeks that should make Parker’s immediate future more clear.

But there was a determination to keep Parker busy and that would hopefully result in a meaningful mid-year fight on ‘‘the best risk-return basis’’.

Higgins felt his fighter had looked ‘‘formidable and dangerous’’, with his effort in Frisco coming off an eight-month break.

‘‘Joseph has been at his best when he has been fighting regularly. Eddie Hearn and I discussed that and there’s a general consensus that we will have Joseph fight as soon as possible.’’

Parker’s win will importantly preserve his No 2 ranking with the WBO, keeping him in the frame for a title shot there.

Duncan Johnstone flew to Texas with the help of Duco Boxing.