Parker enters ‘phase two’ of career
Joseph Parker believes renewed excitement levels can push him towards another world heavyweight title.
After a year in which he fought just once, Parker launches his comeback in Texas on Sunday week against North American champion Shawndell Winters, the WBA No 14.
Given his inactivity, Parker’s glory days with the WBO belt almost seem an age ago.
But he has turned his frustrations into motivation and hopes to announce his second coming with a statement win over Winters.
‘‘I believe this is going to be the second phase of my career,’’ the 28-year-old told his British promoters Matchroom Boxing.
‘‘I’ve had a great first phase . . . you know, good wins, great support, champion of the world. Happy? It made me happy but I wasn’t excited and now I’m excited.
‘‘I want to give it everything I have, I want to give it every single thing I have.
‘‘And with the belief that I have and with the drive that I have and with the team that I have, we are going to be back at the top very soon.’’
Parker (26-2) feels the cause of his surprisingly stalled career doesn’t lie totally with his own performances after losing to British opponents Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte in 2018 and struggling to get any momentum since.
‘‘What’s stopping me getting back to fighting for the title is just opposition. I’m keen to fight anyone there is. Sometimes not everyone is keen to fight me,’’ he told Matchroom.
‘‘So I would like to fight anyone I can to progress and get closer to the goal of being champion of the world, unified champion of the world, that would be amazing.
‘‘A lot of them [opponents] see it as highrisk, low reward fighting me. You offer and they want to double the money or triple it.’’
He thanked Winters (13-2) for stepping up and says he has nothing but respect for the 39-year-old former cruiserweight who has stepped up a division and rattled the cage with wins over touted European opponents. Despite being out-sized, Winters showed plenty of mongrel to win those fights.
Parker is desperate to bring his impressive training into fight night. He needs to justify his lofty No 2 ranking with the WBO and prove to them he should be in their title plans.
‘‘Going into every fight I’m confident. There are many times when I know what I can do in the ring but I haven’t shown it. So I will go out there and show it.’’