Parker spars with heavy-hitters
Kevin Barry has brought in a couple of beasts to fine-tune Joseph Parker ahead of his WBO world title heavyweight defence against Hughie Fury.
Parker puts his belt on the line in Manchester on September 23 and is now into the second week of sparring.
Barry has him working with some classy talent with his current training opponents being world title contender Malik Scott and fellow American Xavier Vigney whose 2.03m frame replicates the lanky Fury.
Parker said he was getting in some ‘‘great rounds’’ with the pair as his Las Vegas training camp intensifies.
The 36-year-old Scott has 38 wins, three losses and a draw in a professional career dating back to 2000.
His losses have all come at the hands of top fighters – WBC world champion Deontay Wilder, bighitting Cuban Luis Ortiz and respected Brit Derek Chisora.
Scott is slightly shorter than Fury but boasts a giant reach at 2.06m.
That’s 13cm more than Parker which will keep the Kiwi probing for holes during training as they Mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor is happy about the switch to lighter gloves for his August 26 fight against undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather and says his opponent will now struggle to make it past the second round.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission yesterday, just 10 days before the playing in the league because of hotly anticipated Las the rule. Vegas fight, approved
Outside the uncertainty around requests from the potential rule change, it has Mayweather and McGrebeen a positive week for Mills and gor to wear eight-ounce the Saints. As well as the signing of gloves rather than Braswell, a meeting with Welling10-ounce ones. ton mayor Justin Lester went well. ‘‘That was a good thing
‘‘We had a very good meeting for me. I’m very happy with the mayor and discussed our with it,’’ McGregor said. issues with him,’’ Mills said. Mayweather had nearly
Those issues hark back to the all of his 49 professional decision to remove ratepayer wins using eight-ounce funding for the Saints in early gloves, which may accen2016, which at the time was tuate one of his advantages reported to be about $25,000 per - his hand speed. McGreyear. The NBL will start later next gor preferred the lighter year, in late April, to accommodate gloves since he is used to the Gold Coast Commonwealth the fingerless, four-ounce Games, which runs from April gloves worn in MMA. 4-15. ‘‘That’s it in a nutshell, you’ve got pros and cons on both sides,’’ he said. ‘‘Favours us both in certain ways. I believe now that the gloves are eight ounces, I don’t believe he makes it out of the second round.
‘‘Part of me ... kind of wants to show some skills and dismantle him that way. (But) I do not foresee him absorbing the blows in the first two rounds.’’
While most pundits have McGregor, who has never boxed professionally, as a heavy underdog, the Dubliner said he was determined to prove the doubters wrong. ‘‘I’m just looking forward to August 26, going in and proving what I’m saying and educating the world on what martial arts is.’’ try to replicate the elusive tac tics Fury is likely to bring.
Vigney is a relative boxing novice with three professional wins but he has made his name as a kickboxer and in sparring.
He was the International Kickboxing Federation’s California, United States and world amateur champion before moving into the professional ranks where has an unbeaten record in the Glory promotions, including winning the heavyweight title at their San Diego fight night.
Parker has a further three weeks of sparring before leaving for the United Kingdom to finish preparations there.