Parker queries AJ’s gym fixation
JOSEPH Parker has questioned Anthony Joshua’s gym obsession as the Kiwi heavyweight looks to lose weight in preparation for a unification showdown with the British giant.
Negotiations are rapidly gathering pace to have WBO champion Parker fight Joshua, the IBF and WBC champion, in March or April, most probably in London.
Parker is promising to be in the best shape of his career for such an important fight. He has taken on personal trainer Sean Hughes for his current fitness camp in Auckland, a move that brings a timely look at the different approaches of the three heavyweight champions that include American Deontay Wilder.
Joshua was at a career-high 115.2kg for his last fight against Carlos Takam. Parker was at 112kg for his defence against Hughie Fury. Wilder, the tallest of the champs, recently blasted out Bermane Stiverne at just 99kg.
Joshua has had increasing criticism over his weight gains. There are no questions about the look of the superstar’s six-pack physique but several boxing pundits believe he is becoming too muscle-bound and his stamina is being affected.
Parker agrees: ‘‘He looks great but I think it can be a bit of an issue with his stamina and being a little bit robotic. Look at some of the greats of the past like Ali, he was never ripped up.’’
The irony is Parker spent more than a year looking to bulk up so he could contend with the bigger heavyweights at the top of the division. But that has compromised his greatest assets – his hand and foot speed. It showed in his more recent performances where he failed to deliver knockouts. Parker has proved as durable as ever and his ability to go 12 rounds hasn’t been questioned. But he appears to have lost some of his snap.
When the footwork is slow, the hands slow down as well – the legs provide the drive and the power for the arms. Getting that back is crucial with the opportunities now in front of him, especially in the shape of Joshua.
Parker’s boxing trainer Kevin Barry wants him to lose around 4kg and get back to the 108kg fighting weight that served him strongly.
Parker always presents himself well for fight night. He’s a diligent trainer and aware of his food intake. But he’s had to concede he’ll never have a real body builder’s look. In the past Barry has had to dissuade him from even trying to get one.
‘‘I can get to a point where I get pretty chiselled. It comes down to REUTERS
‘ It can be a bit of an issue with his stamina and being a little bit robotic.’ JOSEPH PARKER
diet but there’s also the body type . . . my Pacific Island genes will never allow me to be the most ripped but I think I can get pretty close to it,’’ Parker said.
Parker is thrilled with the early showings from his work with Hughes, who has previously linked with the All Blacks, Black Sticks and Team New Zealand.
Much of the focus over the past three weeks has been about body weight and recovery sessions – helping the body to de-load from the stresses it’s being put through. There’s a hope this will help negate the shoulder and elbow problems that have increasingly nagged Parker.
‘‘The work I’ve been doing with Sean has been very beneficial. I see a lot of positives from it. I see that it’s helping with strengthening the smaller muscles,’’ Parker said.
‘‘It is going to be awesome to see the difference it makes when I go to my next training camp and get into sparring.
‘‘I think it will improve everything . . . footwork, speed, agility. I’m really looking forward to testing it in full camp.’’
Parker will continue his general fitness work up to Christmas, enjoy festivities at home with his family, then return to Las Vegas to knuckle down to boxingspecific work.