Changed preparation has Parker in top shape

MELBOURNE: Training smarter not harder has heavyweight Joseph Parker in top shape, the New Zealander feeling like his best is still ahead of him.

Parker will square up against Queenslander Faiga ‘‘Django’’ Opelu at Margaret Court Arena tonight, sharing top billing with Nikita Tszyu and Benjamin Bommber.

Weighing in at 108.8kg, Parker looked impressive at yesterday’s weighin as he towered over his opponent, who clocked 97.4kg on the scales.

Parker, who made his professional debut in 2012 and won the WBO world heavyweight title four years later, rates his preparation as firstrate.

‘‘In my 10 years of boxing this has been one of my best preparations ever, even before winning the world title,’’ Parker, whose record is 313, said.

‘‘So this fight is going to be very different and I feel sorry for Faiga because he’s the one in front of me . . . he’s going to get the full force.’’

Parker (31) has his good pal,

WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, in his corner in Melbourne, the Briton having helped change his approach to training.

Fury introduced Parker to George Lockhart, a former US Marine and now nutritionist and strength and conditioning trainer, who has worked with the Gypsy King, as well as UFC champions Conor McGregor and Jon Jones.

Parker said he used to overtrain without the proper fuel, but now had the balance right and was bristling with energy.

‘‘I have George Lockhart in camp and he’s done the nutrition and strength training, and boxing has always been there, so I think we’ve got the right balance now, finally,’’ Parker said.

‘‘It’s not really the food, it’s really the overtraining, so having someone there to manage training times, sleep time, eat time — having all of that in place makes it easier.’’

Fury said he could not remember seeing Parker in better shape.

‘‘I’ve seen a massive change in Joe, his body shape,’’ Fury said.

‘‘I’ve never seen him this ripped before or in as good a shape, so I’m excited for the fight.’’

Opelu has 15 wins, three losses and two draws. Last October he fought in Melbourne, downing Hemi Ahio.

However, Parker warned he was in a different class.

‘‘I know Django has had some good wins, but I ain’t no Hemi. I’m a different fighter,’’ he said. — AAP

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Bring it on . . . Joseph Parker (left) and Faiga Opelu face off during the weighin yesterday before their bout at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne tonight.