A New Zealander of Samoan heritage, Parker has never been decked as an amateur or professional and brings a degree of speed, movement and pedigree missing in many of today’s leading heavyweights. His three world title fights have all gone the distance, suggesting his power at the highest level is decent rather than destructive.
For me, his best performance in 24 straight wins came against Carlos Takam, the French-based Cameroonian beaten by Joshua last time out. Parker met Takam almost two years ago, before becoming the WBO champion, and came through a stern test of strength and endurance.
Takam lasted the full 12 rounds, whereas Joshua stopped him in 10, but Parker’s performance was equally creditable given the circumstances. Takam had not been drafted in as a late substitute and, at the time, was generally regarded as somebody best avoided by young prospects.
How Parker copes with the occasion, across the whole of fight week, will be crucial to his chances in Cardiff. There is no way of practising or visualising a ring-walk in front of 80,000 people – and there are few fighters to turn to for reference points. Parker, though, seems the type to hold firm.
Joshua’s trainer Robert McCracken felt his man should have made more use of the jab against Takam in October and the lead left hand could be even more important against Parker.
The Kiwi sometimes drifts backwards in straight lines and the jab will help Joshua to close the distance before following up with power shots from both hands.
Joshua rates as Britain’s best heavyweight since Lennox Lewis and there are career parallels beyond their Olympic gold medals.
Parker is Joshua’s 21st opponent; Lewis fought the highly-regarded Canadian Donovan ‘Razor’ Ruddock in his 22nd pro outing, winning inside four minutes at London’s Earls Court and shortly afterwards being awarded the WBC title when the American Riddick Bowe, who had lost to Lewis in the 1988 Olympic final, refused to be drawn into a rematch.
