Joseph Parker (boxer)

Joseph Parker
Statistics
Real name	Joseph Dennis Parker
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Reach	193 cm (76 in)
Nationality	New Zealander
Born	9 January 1992 South Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	18
Wins	18
Wins by KO	16
Losses	0
Website	www.parkerboxing.com
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing  New Zealand Youth Olympic Games 2010 Singapore Super heavyweight Youth World Championships 2010 Baku Super heavyweight

Joseph Dennis Parker (born 9 January 1992) is a New Zealand born professional boxer of Samoan descent who currently holds the WBO Oriental and OPBF regional heavyweight titles.^[1]

Parker was an accomplished amateur boxer, competing in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and narrowly missing qualification for the 2012 Summer Olympics before turning professional in May 2012.^[2] He has an unbeaten record of 18 professional bouts.^[3] Parker is currently ranked the WBO number 1, IBF number 4, WBC number 6, WBA number 11 and IBO number 9 heavyweight boxer in the world. He is also ranked number 12 in the world by independent boxing website BoxRec.

Parker goes by the high chief name of Lupesoliai La'auli.^[4] Contrary to reports that the emerging star was bestowed a matai (chief) title, the village of Faleula revealed to him the name to bestow upon him the chiefly title of La'auli. The paramount chief of the village, Loau Keneti Sio, urged him to be a "strong man". He bestowed his blessings on Parker, reminding him that the bestowed title is a gift and a "blessing to him from the village". Loau said informing him that he has been chosen to be bestowed the title La'auli is a sign of respect. It is also a thank you from the village for what he has achieved for Samoa.^[5]

Early life

Joseph Parker was born in South Auckland on 9 January 1992 to Dempsey and Sala Parker. He is of predominantly Samoan descent, but also has little English and German ancestry. Parker's Samoan ancestry roots go back to Faleula village on the main island of Upolu in Samoa where his mother hails from.^[5] He was raised in Māngere Joseph took up boxing at the age eleven and pursued the sport while attending high school at Marcellin College. Parker is the elder brother of John Parker, an up-and-coming amateur boxer, and his sister Elizabeth. Their father, Dempsey Parker, was named after heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey.^[6][7]

Amateur career

Parker had huge success during his amateur career being two time New Zealand Amateur Heavyweight Champion in 2010 and 2011 as well as being able to win several amateur tournaments and score a couple of notable wins on the international circuit. He won silver at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics and 2010 Commonwealth Boxing Championships while also winning bronze at the 2010 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. Joseph also won gold at the Arafura Games, the China Open as well as the 50th Winner Tournament in Belgrade where he beat 2012 Olympian’s Erik Pfeifer and Johan Linde. He was awarded the New Zealand Pacific Junior sportsman of the year while still in the amateur ranks in 2011.^[8]

Parker at age 18 competed for New Zealand in the super heavyweight category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. He won his first fight by 14–7 over Canadian Didier Bence after scoring nine points in the final round.^[9] Parker needed only to win his second fight, the quarter final, to pick up a medal but lost to Tariq Abdul Haqq. The fight was tied at 7–7 after Parker landed a late punch to tie up the scores. The judges, however, gave Abdul Haqq the win by a majority decision of three of the five judges.^[10]

Professional career

Parker turned professional with Duco Events in Auckland under the tutelage of Sir Bob Jones.^[11] As a professional, Parker has had 18 fights and won 16 by knock-out (including technical knock-outs and retirements).

Parker vs. Garmonsway & Botha

On 5 July 2012, in Auckland, New Zealand's Convention Centre, Parker made his professional debut against New Zealander Dean Garmonsway at the 'Godfather of All Fight Nights' on the undercard of the Shane Cameron versus Monte Barrett title eliminator. The then twenty-year-old south Aucklander stepped into the professional ranks for the first time, Parker was hyped as New Zealand's most promising boxer since David Tua and had a lot to lose going into his professional debut. Garmonsway, a former rugby league star, playing for Waikato representative teams and, most recently, with the Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions had only three professional boxing bouts, amounting to two wins and one loss, also standing around 192 cm tall and weighing in roughly at 108 kg.^[12] Parker smashed his opponent and with some thundering shots and won by technical knockout midway through the second round.^[13]

After winning four more minor bouts in New Zealand and America, Parker agreed to fight South African Francois Botha. The fight led to Parker's manager, Sir Bob Jones, quitting over the suitability of pitching Joseph against Botha, especially after Botha's recent controversy-filled fight with Sonny Bill Williams in Australia.^[14] He defeated Botha on 13 June 2013 by a second round knockout over the former four-time world heavyweight contender.^[15]

Parker vs. Tatupu

Following his win over Botha, Parker extended his unbeaten professional record to seven wins with a second-round knockout over Afa Tatupu at the Trusts Arena in Waitakere, Auckland. All the predictions before the fight were the two would unleash early in the contest, and they came true as Parker won the fight with a stunning second round blow. Parker secured the New Zealand National Boxing Federation title with an impressive win marred only by a serious cut he suffered in the opening round when the fighters clashed heads. The fight doctor considered ending the fight after the first round due to the state of the cut above the left eye but Parker's manager Kevin Barry pleaded for a second round and got it. His charge responded with a flurry of punches which lowered former champion Tatupu two minutes into the second round. Tatupu came out strong in the first round and threw some good shots, testing the chin of the then 21-year-old rising star. The two then got into a brawl as they traded punch for punch.^[16]

Parker threw plenty at his opponent, showing his speed and power late in the first round but Tatupu was saved by the bell as he battled against the ropes. The punishment continued in the second round before Parker delivered the killer blow. It was an action-packed contest, with the then 33-year-old Tatupu opening in aggressive style and prompting a belligerent response from Parker after he was searching for a upset knockout win. The pair went toe-to-toe for much of the second round before Parker's superior speed and power made the difference.^[17]

Parker vs. Nascimento & 2014 era

Parker started off 2014 after he defeated Brazilian Marcelo Luiz Nascimento for the interim PABA heavyweight title on 26 April 2014, as the undercard of Wladimir Klitschko and Alex Leapai's heavyweight world title bout.

In his next bout he defeated 39-year-old defending American WBO Oriental heavyweight champion Brian Minto.^[18] on 5 July 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand. Minto was knocked down in the fifth and seventh rounds and retired after the end of the seventh leaving Joseph winning his third title.^[19]

Following an easy victory over another American Keith Thompson in August, Parker went on to outclass durable Bahamian 42-year-old Sherman Williams with a convincing unanimous decision.^[20] After Williams losing, he continued to cause controversy after he kept attempting to snatch and grabb the microphone within the ring and issuing a re-match challenge against Parker. He claimed that he'd knock out Parker in the sixth round in a re-match. Parker quoted saying it's not up to him and we are fighters and lets leave it to the judges to decide.^[21]

Parker vs. Costa Junior, Pettaway & Saglam

Parker continued his winning form after he knocked out top-ranked Brazilian and WBO Latino heavyweight champion Irineu Beato Costa Junior in December 2014,^[22] before doing the same to unknown American 34-year-old Jason Pettaway in March 2015.^[23] Joseph retained his PABA and WBO Oriental heavyweight titles.

Following a three-week camp as sparring partner to World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in Florida, Parker announced to fight three more bouts in 2015, re-commencing in Palmerston North on 13 June where he defeated Turkish-born German fighter Yakup Saglam in an emphatic second round knockout.^[24] Parker battered Saglam late in the first round, but stepped it up in the second with his big hits. Saglam had a massive right hook of his own, but couldn't land any, while Parker's speed and power were too much. Joseph maintained his unbeaten record, notching his fourteenth win and twelfth by knockout while also again retaining his two titles.^[25]

Parker vs. Tupou & Meehan

Following the withdrawal of Japanese heavyweight champion Kyotaro Fujimoto, Parker beat Australian replacement Bowie Tupou on 1 August in Invercargill, New Zealand, by first round knockout. He then fought 45-year-old former World Title contender Kali Meehan (42 wins; 5 losses) on 15 October in Auckland. The New Zealand-born Australian Meehan earned his shot at the promising heavyweight after winning the Super 8 competition and beating Kiwi veteran Shane Cameron. Parker won the fight in the 3rd round by technical knockout.

Parker vs. Martz & Bergman

Parker's next two opponents were both named on 9 November 2015, with American 24-year-old Daniel Martz selected for 5 December 2015 in Hamilton, followed by southpaw Jason Bergman, also of the United States, on 23 January 2016 in Apia, Samoa.^[26]

Parker had scored an emphatic first-round technical knockout win over Martz at the Fight For Life event. As expected, he wasted no time in flooring the 2.02 meter American at Claudelands Arena, for a super quick technical knockout victory. Parker took just one minute and 17 seconds to floor the big-talking Martz flat on his face with a big swinging right punch to the left-side of his head.^[27]

Parker notched his 18th consecutive win with an eighth round technical knockout of American Jason Bergman in Samoa. Far from the one or two round finishes of his more recent fights, Parker was made to work for his victory by a staunch and determined Bergman. The challenger offered very little on offense but displayed some impressive mettle in soldiering through a number of Parker onslaughts, the champion tenderising the body relentlessly in what proved to be the ideal workout against his first southpaw opponent. After twice sending Bergman to his knee in earlier rounds for the count, one particularly brutal liver shot crumbled the American, the referee having seen enough as he waved off the fight.^[28]

Parker vs. Takam

Parker is scheduled to battle Cameroonian-French Carlos Takam on 21 May 2016 in an IBF Heavyweight title eliminator at South Auckland's Vodafone Events Centre in New Zealand.

Professional boxing record

Titles in boxing

Regional/International Titles:

• EPBC Heavyweight Champion (236 lbs)
• NZNBF Heavyweight Champion (229 lbs)
• OPBF Heavyweight Champion (237 lbs)
• PABA Heavyweight Champion (238 lbs)
• WBA Oceania Heavyweight Champion (236 lbs)
• WBO Africa Heavyweight Champion (237 lbs)
• WBO Oriental Heavyweight Champion (226 lbs)

Honors and awards

• 2010 Commonwealth Boxing Championships Super heavyweight Silver medalist^[29]
• 2010 Youth World Boxing Championships Super heavyweight Bronze medalist
• 2010 Summer Youth Olympics Super heavyweight Silver medalist
• 2010 Competed at Super heavyweight at the Commonwealth Games
• 2010 New Zealand national amateur boxing Super heavyweight champion^[30]
• 2011 Arafura Games Super heavyweight Gold medalist^[31]
• 2011 China Open Super heavyweight Gold medalist^[32]
• 2011 New Zealand Pacific Island Sports Awards: Emerging Talent Award
• 2011 New Zealand national amateur boxing Super heavyweight champion^[30]
• 2012 50th Belgrade Winner Tournament Super heavyweight Gold medalist^[33]
• 2012 Samoan Sports Awards: Junior Sportsman of the Year^[34]
• 2013 New Zealand Pacific Island Sports Awards: Sportsman of the Year^[35]
• 2015 World Boxing Organization Annual Awards: Oriental Heavyweight Fighter of the Year^[36]

References

1. "Joseph Parker – boxer". BoxRec. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
2. "Olympic boxing hopes over for Joseph Parker". Stuff. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
3. "Pro ranks beckon for Joseph Parker". TVNZ. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
4. "A tour of Joseph Parker's Samoan backyard". 3 News. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
5. "Faleula gathers for Joseph Parker". Samoa Observer. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
6. Cameron, Dave (1 July 2010). "Keep an eye on young Joseph Parker". Fight Times. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
7. Singh, Anendra (2 September 2013). "Joseph 'The Pacifier' Parker". Hawke's Bay Today. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
8. "New Faces: Joseph Parker". The Ring. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
9. "Boxing: Parker explodes in games opener". The New Zealand Herald. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
10. "Boxing: Parker bows out in nail-biter". The New Zealand Herald. 12 October 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
11. Barrett, Cameron (16 May 2012). "Joseph Parker announces professional switch". Stuff. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
12. "Proud fighter out to ruin Joseph Parker's party". Waikato Times. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
13. "Parker v Garmonsway, KFC Godfather of All Fight Nights". Stuff. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
14. Johnstone, Duncan (26 February 2013). "Joseph Parker agrees to fight Francois Botha". Stuff. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
16. "Joseph Parker knocks out Afa Tatupu in second round". 3 News. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
17. Savory, Logan (10 October 2013). "Joseph Parker beats Afa Tatupu with KO". Stuff. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
18. https://web.archive.org/20140430234250/http://tvnz.co.nz:80/othersports-news/joseph-parker-fight-brian-minto-5943082. Archived from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
19. "Parker beats Minto in seven". Stuff.
20. "Boxing: Parker wins in controversial fight". The New Zealand Herald.
21. "Sherman Williams' rant at Joseph Parker 'farcical and self-serving'". onenews. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
22. Napier, Liam (7 December 2014). "Joseph Parker lands a killer knockout blow". Stuff. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
23. Napier, Liam (5 March 2015). "Kiwi fighter Joseph Parker beats Jason Pettaway with fourth-round TKO". Stuff.
24. "Joseph Parker executes emphatic Round Two knockout". One News Now.
25. "Joseph Parker knocks out opponent Yakup Saglam in two rounds in Palmerston North". onenews. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
26. "Joseph Parker unveils Fight for Life and Samoa opponents". 3News. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
27. "Joseph Parker knocks out Daniel Martz in first round at Fight For Life". Stuff. 6 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
28. "Joseph Parker overpowers Jason Bergman in Samoa". Stuff. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
29. "New Zealand’s boxing past and its future – Tuna Scanlan and Joseph Parker". Pacific Scoop. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
30. "New Zealand Amatuer [sic] Champions". Boxing New Zealand. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
31. "Four golds for Kiwi boxers at Arafura Games". Voxy. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
32. "Parker on form again". Boxing New Zealand. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
33. "Parker wins Gold in Belgrade". Boxing New Zealand. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
34. "Kaino and NFL star shine at Samoan Sports Awards". Voxy. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
35. "Valerie Adams wins Pacific Sportswoman of the year award". Voxy. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
36. "Joseph Parker's stable cleans up at WBO annual awards in US". Stuff. Retrieved 6 November 2015.

External links

• Professional boxing record for Joseph Parker from BoxRec