If you don’t trust big fight judges... KNOCK ME OUT
Parker hits back at Chisora’s wind-up attempt
JOSEPH PARKER has told Derek Chisora to stop whining and knock him out if he’s unhappy with the officials.
Chisora claims he was robbed when he lost their first fight in May and says he can only win Saturday’s rematch at Manchester’s AO Arena if promoter Eddie Hearn bribes the officials.
Parker suspects Chisora is trying to wind him up and dared the ex-world heavyweight title challenger to try to stop him.
He said: “Chisora has an opinion like everybody else.
“He’s been in the game a long time, he knows what to say and what to do to try to upset me.
“He’s just trying to get under my skin and he’s using his experience to do so.
“Obviously it didn’t work last time and if he wants a conclusive decision he should try to knock me out, then there are no judges involved. But he can’t knock me out. I’m too young and too fresh for him.
“I feel this camp has been a great camp. I’m looking forward to punching his face in on December 18.”
Parker, 29, has been training with Andy Lee in Tyson Fury’s home town of Morecambe and says he is glad not to be cooped up in the same hotel as Chisora – as they were during the last fight week.
The former WBO heavyweight king claims he found it awkward having breakfast with Chisora when he was trying to get into the zone to go to war. The Kiwi added: “The first fight, we were in the same hotel and he was very friendly.
“We had breakfast together. It was like an awkward first date.
“I’d never done it before and I don’t want to do it again because it was so awkward.
“What do you say to someone you’re going to punch in the face and who’s going to punch you in the face? Cheers? How can you go from being friendly to wanting to smash someone?
“There has to be a build-up. Leading into the fight you have to get into the zone – there’s a job to be done.
“You can’t be a friendly person and then try to smash someone – it doesn’t work.
“This time we’re not staying together and that’s good.
“I want to keep that distance. I don’t want to have any more breakfasts together or chill because I mean business.”
The pair will come face to face at today’s final press conference in Manchester and the New Zealand fighter is braced for any stunts the volatile Chisora may attempt to rattle him.
Chisora can’t knock me out. I’m too young and too fresh for him JOSEPH PARKER IS CONFIDENT HE’LL TAKE SPOILS ON SATURDAY
Parker said: “He’s very unpredictable. You’re not sure what he’s going to do, so you just have to be prepared for whatever he brings.
“He might be friendly or aggressive, he might slap me or kiss me, or throw something at me. Whatever he does, I’ll be ready.”