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Parker is Back
Well, he hadn’t really gone anywhere, but after last year's loss to Joe Joyce, there were a lot of Ki’o talkers out there demanding he be gone.
by Simon Amani I 27th December 2023
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However, considering most of the people with that opinion have never been in the ring or even just getting off a couch and entering a gym, we take it as a grain of masima (salt). It was just disappointing that most of the people dogging Parker came from his home country of Aotearoa and even his people of Samoa. We have to do better my fellow Samoan and New Zealanders, especially when it comes to supporting our combat athletes. This is not an easy way to make a living and to have the Discipline, Commitment, and Mental fortitude to cope with the demands of the sport deserves praise, especially when you’re doing it at a high level on the world
stage.
Rant over, on to the mean performance from Parker last Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Parker executed a perfect game plan to pressure Wilder to his back foot and be the busier fighter.
Parker jabbed well enough and was looking to land a looping overhand right. In round 8 he did just that landing a good right hand to the face of Wilder who took it well and managed to survive the round after getting wobbly legs. Next round Wilder was there for the taking but Parker was conservative and boxed on the outside allowing Wilder to recover. Outside of that, I thought Parker won every round pretty easily, thanks largely to the ineffectiveness of Wilder who let's be honest, quite disappointing.
After his 3rd professional loss to the talented Joe Joyce last year (who a lot of Boxers duck), Parker spent the year in the United Kingdom training under the tutelage of Andy Lee and training with Tyson Fury. He has remained in shape all year and after 4 solid wins this year, Parker has propelled himself to a platform where his next couple of fights may set him up for another shot at the title.
If and when he does, let's back him 100 % win or learn.
Where do we rate Parker compared to our other greats of Pacifica boxing like The Great David Tua? Maselino Masoe? Kickboxers like Mark Hunt, and Ray Sefo? How about our recent UFC stars Tai Tuivasa and Samoan superstar Isalaelu Adesanya?.... We don’t!! Joseph Parker is still going strong and at 31 years old, we can argue he's entering the Peak of his Powers. Let’s sit back and support the uso as he
flies the New Zealand and Samoan flags on the world stage.