SBW vastly improved – sparring partner
BOXING
Logan Savory New Zealand’s top amateur boxer Joseph Parker says Sonny Bill Williams’ boxing has improved remarkably and, had his recent fight against Clarence Tillman gone on longer, that would have been showcased.
Parker has been a sparring partner for Sonny Bill Williams in the leadup to the All Black’s venture into boxing.
The teenage Auckland heavyweight, who has his sights set on this year’s Olympics in London, said it had been a win-win situation for the pair to square off in training.
Parker struggles to find big and fit boxers in New Zealand to spar against while Williams has also been in search of a similar figure to test skills.
The pair sparred against each other on three different occasions in the leadup to Williams’ fight against Tillman, amassing 14 rounds in the training gym in total. Williams showed impressive gains each time, Parker said.
‘‘He’s a lot better now, he’s improved a lot,’’ he said. ‘‘It would have been good if the fight went longer and people would have seen how much he has improved.’’
So how about a showdown between the two of them when Parker, if all goes according to plan, turns pro later this year?
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‘‘I leave that stuff to my manager,’’ Parker responded.
The youngster’s manager is Sir Bob Jones who was scathing of Williams fight against Tillman in Hamilton last week, labelling it a joke.
Parker’s sparring with Williams and his general training lately has been hampered by a shoulder injury. He has had to limit what he does to ensure he can get it right for some major dates in his boxing career.
Next week he will head to China to compete in the World Boxing Series, where he will line up for the Beijing Dragons in a franchisetype event.
The series is contested by the world’s top amateur boxers who compete in teams in an atmosphere that has the glitz and glamour of professional boxing.
They also do not wear headgear or tops as they normally would in amateur boxing.
‘‘It’s great experience for me for when I turn pro. Getting to fight without the head gear and topless, I feel more comfortable with that.’’
When Parker returns from China, the focus will switch to the Oceania Olympic Qualifying event in Canberra next month.
Parker wants to be fizzing for the event, with only one boxer in Oceania from each category able to qualify for the Olympics in London in July.
It is an important step for Parker in his plan to book a place in the Olympics, compete well in London and then turn professional later this year.
He will need to be on top of his game in Canberra to ensure the first box is ticked.