Parker’s mum ready to step into the ring
The butterflies are rising for Sala Parker as son Joseph prepares to fight for the heavyweight boxing championship of the world.
But the devoted mum is ready to step into the ring alongside him for the first time, if he wins the WBO title fight against Andy Ruiz in Auckland on December 10.
Parker, 24, has asked her throughout his rising career, ‘‘Mum, can you come in the ring when I win?,’’ says Sala, 50. ‘‘I said no, I will only get (in) there when you win the world title – that’s the only time you can see me in the ring.’’
Sala says she was experiencing I’m not a boxing person but sometimes I tell him after the event, ‘You know you’ve got to be mindful of your left hand. You’ve got to be alert at all times’. ‘‘butterflies, and it’s always like that leading up to the fight’’.
She loves seeing her son perform in the ring but still winces when he’s hit. She studies ‘‘every move’’, however, and is quick to advise him.
‘‘I’m not a boxing person but sometimes I tell him after the event ‘You know you’ve got to be mindful of your left hand. You’ve alert at all times’.
‘‘He just takes it on OK, thanks mum’.’’
Parker was just four when Sala’s husband Dempsey (named after US boxing icon Jack Dempsey) picked up a tiny punch bag and gloves at the market, having noticed how keen the boy was to jab at his got to be (board), ‘Oh father’s hands. ‘‘I said to my brothers that Joseph will get somewhere (in boxing) because he always trained hard.’’
Sala, a social worker, and Dempsey, 56, a steelworker, who came to New Zealand in their 20s from Samoa, worked hard to provide the best for their children – Elizabeth, 25, Joseph, and John, 22. Dempsey did double-shifts to help support his son’s career.
Parker’s parents have also worked in instil values, such as rising above trash talk and not celebrating knockouts boisterously.
Parker was in Skype contact with Elizabeth this month throughout her wedding in Kumeu, to his childhood mate Fonua Fuavao. He was unable to attend the ceremony because he was in Vegas preparing for his world title bid.
John, a promising amateur who was a national middleweight and light heavyweight champion, is training in Christchurch for the December 10 fight card – adding to his parents’ excitement and nerves.
The day before, the family will gather for a pre-fight prayer for their sons’ protection and success.
Sala says she has watched footage of tough undefeated MexicanAmerican fighter Ruiz.
‘‘It’s going to be a tough one, he’s only 27, he is in his prime. When I saw him I thought, you know he’s ready, he’s very serious about this fight … But we believe in Joseph.’’