Unbeaten boxers square off in title fight

For the past few years, Jerome Pampellone and John Parker have been quietly going about their work.

Two of the country’s brightest boxing prospects, the pair have each seen off every opponent in their professional careers — they boast a combined 17-0 record, with nine ending before the final bell.

On February 26, one will halt the momentum of the other when they square off in the headline event of the Culture Kings Boxing Classic at Auckland’s ASB Tennis Centre.

It’s a bout that has been brewing for a while but Pampellone’s coach Isaac Peach said the timing was perfect.

The bout is a case of high risk, high reward for both men, as they look to take the next step in their careers.

A win here will undoubtedly open the door to bigger fights in Australia and beyond.

A loss will not be careerthreatening but will likely delay opportunities further afield.

Pampellone has wasted little time in establishing himself on the local scene since making his professional debut in December 2020. In little more than a year, the 25-year-old has amassed 10 fights.

However, Parker will be by far the biggest test of his professional career so far, as the only fighter he has come up against with a winning record.

In Pampellone’s 10 bouts, his opponents have combined for a 14 win-63 loss record, although he gained admiration in taking Olympic bronze medallist David Nyika to a split decision in an amateur bout in October 2020.

Parker, the younger brother of former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph, has had a longer professional career, despite having fewer bouts than Pampellone.

The 27-year-old made his professional debut in 2016 but did not fight for three years before returning to the ring in late 2020.

Restarting with a 3-0 record, Parker showed his power to win three of his next four bouts by knockout.

While both fighters have spent time at cruiserweight, they look to have found a home in the light heavyweight division, and will have the New Zealand light heavyweight title on the line in six weeks.

While Parker has more experience on the big stages, having competed on several Joseph Parker undercards, Pampellone comes in to the bout with a significant size advantage, standing 7cm taller than Parker, with a 13cm reach advantage.