Dynamic duo sets sights on double success
A seasoned observer in the Joseph Parker camp turned and remarked after the Kiwi’s latest boxing workout in London, ‘‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen him hitting harder or cleaner’’.
They might have added, ‘‘or with more anger’’.
This is a new Joseph Parker who takes to the professional ring at a sold-out O2 Arena on Sunday (NZT) to fight London late-bloomer Dillian Whyte in what is being tagged an almost do-or-die encounter for both ambitious boxers.
Parker’s promoter David Higgins has called it the biggest fight of his charge’s career – rating it above even last April’s heavyweight unification matchup against Anthony Joshua – and there’s no doubt the pathway shapes as an unappetising one for the vanquished.
Parker, who has won 24 of his 25 professional fights, appears in no mood to even contemplate that prospect.
The sound of the boxer’s gloves hitting his trainer’s pads during yesterday workout at David Haye’s boutique gym had the crisp, sharp report of a man throwing with world-class intent.
Some of Parker’s words in his week already spent in London have backed up the fact that he’s not just a man on a mission, but one looking to leave an indelible mark in doing so.
The nicest guy in New Zealand sport still shines through in much of his dealings in the public arena, but there has been the odd comment, the odd reaction that has indicated a hardening of the resolve as he approaches this career crossroads.
It was something the 26-year-old Aucklander, who has missed the birth of second daughter Shiloh because of this fight, was happy to fess up to in his latest media appearance to promote a fight that will go out to a massive global audience.
Yes, he had told a day earlier he had wanted to hurt his sparring partners in Las Vegas, such was the roll he got on during the best pre-fight camp he has had there. And, yes, some decidedly pithy comments from Whyte in the buildup may also have got just a little under his skin. Blair Tuke says he and Peter Burling’s decision to juggle their America’s Cup commitments with another Olympic quest will ultimately benefit both campaigns.
The star sailing duo yesterday confirmed their intention to try for a second-straight 49er gold at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo as well as being part of Team New Zealand’s defence of the Auld Mug the following year.
It’s a massive undertaking, which Burling and Tuke know all about having combined the two roles to great effect on the way to winning gold in Rio 2016 and the America’s Cup last year.
But this is new territory for Parker. And if it takes a bit of anger for the Hulk to emerge, nobody in New Zealand will be complaining.
For the first time in his career, Parker is coming off a defeat. Yes, the KiwiSamoan with the chin like a rock still hasn’t been sat down in his entire career. But he has lost. Reasonably comprehensively too, for all the fuss about the ineptitude of the Italian referee.
‘‘The mindset is different,’’ explained Parker. ‘‘Before I used to go ‘sparring is good, I’m learning this, I’m learning that, and it would be nice to catch them here and there’. This time I went in wanting to really hurt them. I wanted to break a rib, flatten a nose. I wanted to try knock them out.’’
Parker has always been good at ignoring the fight game bluster, and has been happy to compartmentalise Whyte’s claims he fought like a ‘‘coward’’ against Joshua. It means nothing. Yet, it might just have stung him.
‘‘I think it comes from being hungry. I want it more. I want it bad,’’ he said. ‘‘This time I’m going to leave everything in the ring, even if I have to kick him.
‘‘If it is anger, it’s controlled anger. I feel like it’s more drive, and maybe the things he’s said makes me really want to hurt him. I really do want to hurt him.’’
All of these are good signs that Parker will bring the aggression that was frustratingly absent in the Joshua fight. Trainer Kevin Barry liked his charge’s movement and defence against the British and world No 1, but not his offence.
Parker’s reaction has been to rebuild, not just his psyche and confidence, but his regime and style.
‘‘I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. ‘‘I came back into camp at 110-111kg and was able to work on technique, skills, combinations instead of work on losing weight. I feel like stepping it up for this camp with more sparring and more strength and conditioning.
‘‘When you’re in shape, you look in the mirror, and you’re ‘ohhh . . .’ You look good, and you feel good.’’
And maybe just a little angry.
‘‘Maybe the things he’s said makes me really want to hurt him. I really do want to hurt him.’’ Joseph Parker on Dillian Whyte
It is not a decision they made lightly. They were always keen to commit to the Olympics but wanted to wait until the completion of the Volvo Ocean Race, which ended, last month, before making the final call.
‘‘The Olympic class is the pure form of sailing and sailing small boats like that makes you better sailors, which you need to be if you want to be at the top of your game,’’ Tuke told
‘‘Time is probably the biggest thing [to consider]. Taking on Team New Zealand commitments as well as the Olympics is no small feat but we proved last time that they can be very beneficial for each other so we’re keen to give it another crack.’’
Burling echoed his team-mate’s sentiments.
‘‘We know the combination of Olympic and America’s Cup sailing complement each other,’’ he said.
The pair have gone from strength
GETTY IMAGES
to strength since claiming silver in the 49er class at the 2012 London Games.
They dominated the last Olympic cycle on the way to going one better in Rio, winning every major regatta including four consecutive world titles.
They then played a key part in bringing the America’s Cup back to these shores, culminating in the 7-1 rout of Oracle Team USA in Bermuda.
But while Tuke felt they were lucky to be able to draw from that experience, he said they were now operating under a ‘‘different landscape’’.
‘‘There’s new challenges both in the two-year campaign for the Olympics, which is pretty tight, and then the America’s Cup. It’s going to be a lot different from Bermuda.’’