Knockout blow:
Joseph Parker is desperate for a ‘‘devastating knockout’’ to get his stalled heavyweight boxing career back on track.
Parker has confirmed a December 15 fight in Christchurch against a yet-to-be confirmed opponent.
After back-to-back losses in Britain to Anthony Joshua – where he surrendered his WBO world title – and Dillian Whyte, Parker’s career is on a tightrope.
He’s still in the mix of top talent in a heated division but he knows he needs to make a statement now or get left behind.
‘‘I need a knockout . . . a devastating knockout . . . a onepunch knockout,’’ the 26-year-old said as he fronted media in Auckland ahead of his weekend departure for Las Vegas where he will start an eight-week training camp.
Parker hasn’t had a knockout victory since he demolished Alexander Dimitrenko two years ago in Auckland.
It’s almost 10 weeks since his controversial loss to Whyte in London and Parker is refreshed and eager to start the rebuild of a career that now stands at 24-2.
While he has enjoyed downtime with his family, and has been busy with promotional commitments, Parker has maintained his fitness, giving himself a good launching pad for this training phase.
‘‘We had a great start to our career and we’ve had two losses now. I’ve made some all right money and I’m set for life now,’’ Parker said.
‘‘But I still have goals and the goal is to be a two-time world champion, a unified champion. So as long as you have those goals and we work together as I team I feel we can rebuild. It will take us a few fights but we will be back to the top again.’’
Parker just wants to get back in the ring.
‘‘To be honest, I don’t care who the next opponent is, I’ll fight anyone,’’ he said.
The search has been narrowed to three options with Parker’s promoter David Higgins juggling a tricky equation.
One name doing the rounds is
28-year-old Mexican-American Alexander Flores who is tied up with the legendary Roy Jones Jnr.
Flores has a 17-1-1 record with
15 knockout wins. His one loss came at the hands of former