Weekend Herald

Trainer backs punchy Parker’s dancing feet as asset

- Christophe­r Reive

Joseph Parker is an unusual heavyweigh­t boxer.

While he packs a punch, it’s what he does with his feet that coach Andy Lee believes sets him apart from many of the world’s best fighters.

Speed has always been a key asset for the 31-year-old Kiwi, in his hands and his movement around the ring, and showing consistent improvemen­ts in his performanc­es since the pair joined forced gives Lee reason to believe Parker has plenty of room to grow.

“It’s really exciting to see how far he’ll go and how much he’ll improve,” Lee told the Weekend Herald.

“These big heavyweigh­ts are uncoordina­ted. They’re practising every day just how to throw and jabone-two because they just don’t have the coordinati­on. Joseph has that and he can be a complete fighter.

“He can be like a heavyweigh­t Canelo Alvarez, really. He can be that good. He could have a middleweig­ht’s fighting style but in a heavyweigh­t frame.”

Alvarez is widely regarded as one of the world’s best boxers in any weight class, with his skill allowing him to compete in many divisions despite potential size disadvanta­ges — having won world titles in four weight classes.

While Parker can’t achieve a similar level of decoration, Lee — a former middleweig­ht world champion — believes he can be just as tough a talent for opponents to deal with.

Tomorrow morning in Manchester, Parker will look to show his continued improvemen­t in his return to the ring against Joe Joyce for the WBO interim heavyweigh­t title. This will be Parker’s third bout under his new coach, and Lee said he had been impressed with the improvemen­ts Parker had made since his win over Derek Chisora last December.

The bout against Joyce is one that has many fans and pundits intrigued.

While Parker has a clear advantage in his speed and movement, Joyce has a sizeable reach advantage and applies pressure by moving forward behind his jab. The 37-year-old comes into the fight undefeated in 14 profession­al bouts, while Parker has a 30-2 record.

Lee said it was a big test for both boxers but there was a clear path to victory for Parker.

“You can nullify everything in boxing, no matter what advantage your opponent has, with timing and positionin­g,” Lee said.

“Everyone thinks boxing is in the hands but boxing is really in the feet; it starts in the feet with footwork and positionin­g and feinting — all things that will hopefully win Joseph the fight.”

A win tomorrow will put underdog Parker back in line for a world title shot, looking to return to the lofty heights he reached in 2016 when he claimed the WBO strap.

But while there was plenty on the line against Joyce, Lee said he wanted his fighter to take a simple approach.

“You can get bogged down in visualisin­g stuff and make fights more than they are,” he said.

“It’s just a fight. It’s no different to what Joseph’s been doing every day in the gym. He has to go in there and perform; box the way he has to always box. Nothing special, nothing extra. Doing what he does in the gym every day will be enough to win.”

 ?? Photo / Getty Images ?? Joseph Parker has his third fight under trainer Andy Lee.
Photo / Getty Images Joseph Parker has his third fight under trainer Andy Lee.

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