Flash, bang, wallop: that’s just the outfit

Joseph Parker's new bespoke ring gear featuring python skin and clear crystals has arrived in the nick of time for his fight against Razvan Cojanu tonight.

The robe and shorts, which cost nearly $ 10,000, were being held at New Zealand customs since last week after arriving from the United Kingdom, but have been released on the payment of a customs duty.

“It cost some good money, I'm not sure how much it cost but it cost quite a bit,” Parker said yesterday.

The gear, made by Fight Label, a company which designed and made Anthony Joshua's white robe and shorts for his fight against Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley, was an important part of Parker's fight preparation.

“When you put it on and you look flash, you're going to fight flash. If you fight flash, you're going to be dominant, and when you're dominant . . . explosive!”

Parker, who fights Cojanu at Manukau’s Vodafone Events Centre in the first defence of his WBO world heavyweight title, weighed in at 111.5kg last night.

His opponent, nicknamed “Bigfoot”, tipped the scale at 124.6kg — more than 13kg heavier than the Kiwi.

Taylor Barry, Parker’s assistant coach earlier said there “would be some nervous moments if we don't get the outfit . . .”

Unique, increasingly bling custom- made outfits have become a trend in the professional fight game, and Barry, the son of Parker's head trainer Kevin, said he and 25- year- old Parker decided late last year they wanted to step up the Kiwi's look.

“We've been looking into how world class athletes do things in terms of recovery and training — it's all about doing things properly,” Barry said. “What Joe wears to the ring is all part of that because he is fighting at the elite level and his audience is massive now — especially in the UK and USA.”

Barry said Parker wore a new outfit for every fight, and while Parker's outfit sounds exorbitant, it isn't likely to cost as much as Joshua's robe.