Parker set to headline Hamilton show
Trainer Kevin Barry spoke to Ben Strang about Joseph Parker’s chances of making the world’s top 10 when he fights in Hamilton this year.
Joseph Parker will headline the Fight for Life in Hamilton in December, a fight that could propel him into the top 10 of world rankings.
The 22-year-old is currently ranked 14th by the WBO and 15th by the WBA, but wins against Sherman ‘‘The Tank’’ Williams next month and a top ranked fighter in December should improve those rankings.
It’s too early for the Parker camp to count their chickens, especially due to the pedigree Williams has, and the quality of opponent touted for the December bout.
WBA No 8 ranked boxer Fres Oquendo has been touted as Parker’s opponent in December, while Ukrainian Vyacheslav Glazkov’s name has also popped up.
Parker’s handlers Duco have also been calling out undefeated Australian Lucas Browne in recent months, but whether
Joseph Parker’s trainer, Kevin Barry, expects his boxer to be ranked in the world’s top 10 soon. the WBA 11th-ranked boxer would take the challenge is another question.
A fight against Oquendo could be an interesting prospect, with the 41-year-old Puerto Rican undefeated when he encountered David Tua in 2002.
Oquendo was in charge of the fight until Tua’s punching power came up trumps in the ninth round, knocking out the man nicknamed ‘‘Fast Fres’’, and handing him his first loss.
From there he went on to fight Chris Byrd, John Ruiz and Evander Holyfield, and most recently fought Uzbekistani boxer Ruslan Chagaev in July.
Parker’s trainer Kevin Barry, speaking to Fairfax NZ from Las Vegas, said it would be great to come to Hamilton in December, but said he is focused on the Williams fight in October.
‘‘We never look ahead of the person in front of us. It’s all one fight at a time,’’ Barry said.
‘‘Obviously our promoters have to have short, medium and long-term plans, but I’m very careful with Joseph that we focus on the next person we’re fighting.
‘‘What I’m trying to do with Joe at this early stage of his career is continually put challenges in front of him that will enable him to develop and improve his skill set.
‘‘Sherman is one of those guys who will put a lot of pressure on Joe. He’ll come forward, and he’ll force Joe to be disciplined, and that’s something I was very impressed with in the Minto fight. We’re going to need it again against Sherman Williams.’’
Barry said Parker’s development is happening at a fast rate, and he is noticing improvements day to day.
‘‘What we’re working on in camp at the moment is developing and mixing up Joseph’s lead patterns, his foot placements, moving his head more, but especially the lead patterns.
‘‘This is going to make him more unpredictable, and able to expose more openings in his opponents.
‘‘We sparred [on Friday morning], and he was really commanding. You could already see those things coming into play between the sparring session on Wednesday, and the one [on Friday.] ‘‘He’s a very quick learner.’’ An unpredictable Parker could spell trouble for those fighters currently occupying spaces in the top 10 of world rankings.
With his skill developing at an impressive rate, or an alarming rate for opponents, Parker will have game plans to deal with any style he encounters in the ring.
That’s why Barry expects his fighter to be well entrenched in the top 10 of the world rankings by the middle of next year, if not by the end of 2014.
‘‘The rankings can be a bit misleading, and a bit political at times,’’ Barry said. ‘‘Joseph, my son and I went down to the Hard Rock Casino where they had a WBA interim heavyweight title between a guy called Luis Ortiz from Cuba, fighting a guy Lateef Kayode. Both were undefeated, Ortiz is number 2 in the world, Kayode number 5 in the world with the WBA.
‘‘Joe would murder Kayode in one round.
‘‘A lot of these rankings are very superficial. When we move into the top 10, it’s important that Joe is equipped to be a top-10 fighter.
‘‘There’s a lot of guys in the top 10 I’d love Joe to fight straight away, so Joe should be in there.
‘‘Some guys I wouldn’t want Joe to fight, because I don’t think we’re ready yet.
‘‘By the end of this year, midway through next year, his position in the top 10 will be solidified.’’
Parker’s opponent for the fight in Hamilton will be confirmed at a later date.
Former All Black Carlos Spencer will make his professional boxing debut against former Kiwis rugby league star Monty Betham in the main undercard bout over four three-minute rounds.
The Fight for Life is expected to feature several Hamilton celebrities, and Fairfax NZ understands Chiefs and Waikato prop Ben Tameifuna will return to the ring after his fight against Sam Thaiday last year.