BoxRec

This kid looks very promising. Seems like he has it all - very good power, hand speed, reflexes. He also has killer instinct and throws really good combinations. He has some defensive flaws (he is/was vulnerable to overhand right), but he is working on them. He isn't a giant, but he isn't a small HW either. He is 2 inches taller than Povetkin, who is widely considered a #2 in HW division. He also seems like a smart and hard-working guy, which is always a good sign for a young fighter. I'd like to see him against Alexander Ustinov next. Ustinov is well known in New Zealand since he retired David Tua, and he isn't too dangerous opponent for Parker in my opinion. I think Parker isn't ready for top-10 guys in the division just yet, but he will be a year from now.

Good call with Ustinov.

Very difficult to assess him at the moment, especially for a heavy. A good heavy needs to be able to fight well under pressure and be able to mix defense with offense. Like Joshua Parker has only had to be offensive so it's way too early to tell whether he will make it at the top. Let's see him in with a live body as anybody can look good on a punchbag.

tough
he'll still be brought along slowly maybe with more domestic fights with solomon haumono and alex leapai

The only good domestic fights left for him are Leapai and Browne. Browne is probably not an option since he is going after Chagaev.

If he would beat Leapai convincingly I would want him to start fighting guys in the top 30 in the World.

The first two names that came to mind were Duhaupas and Ustinov, both of whom I'd expect to give him rounds. I also think Christian Hammer would be a good opponent at this stage.

Europe, or the top of America:
Amir Monsour/George Washington, Charles Martin, Gjergjaj, Wach, Whyte, Chisora,



After that Szpilka, Teper, Adamek, Glazkov, Fedosov, Browne, Helenius


Then Jennings, Pulev, Chagaev, Takam,

Then Anthony Joshua, Povetkin or Klitschko.


I must say, he's very very very active for a boxer who's fighting against this level of opponends.
By the first look he doesn't even look that impressive, but he is, I can't deny that.

Parker is a great prospect. Looking @ boxrec's rankings, I'd put him in with Fedosov and Takam guys of their top 20, and Hammer, Carman, or Price if he's still fighting, for their guys in the top 40.

The other names are too risky and/or already have a meal on their plate, if you will.

Ya, Fedosov would be a good opponent too.

Pulev, Washington, Mansour, Martin, Ustinov, Browne, Breazale, and Jennings would make for interesting fights.

Freedom2013 wrote:Pulev, Washington, Mansour, Martin, Ustinov, Browne, Breazale, and Jennings would make for interesting fights.

Pulev will not take this fight in my opinion
Washington good choice
Mansour is a fantastic choice.Let's see if Parker has a chin
Martin this does nothing for me
Ustinov a decent big man.Could be a good test
Browne is supposed to face Chagaev soon so I doubt this one
Breazale another one that does nothing for me
Jennings I do not see Jennings taking the risk.I expect him to look to either Wilder or Chagaev

What ever he does he need to start getting a profile in the USA.

Might be time to go fighting over there..

The Sky is the limit this young man could be the best Australasian Heavyweight boxer i'v seen in the last 40 year's and he seems to have the team around him that will keep his frame of mind in the right place so a BIG TO TEAM PARKER

I agree that Ustinov and Duhaupas are probably some of the best to stand-up to his power and take him into the deep end. Odlanier Solis would probably also put-up reasonable resistance. Tomasz Adamek would be a coin flip as to whether he could cleverly elude Parker or if he would crumble early in his late physical age. It would be nice if Joshua could get a shot at Chagaev within a year.

This is not exactly an era of many tough trial horses, tough. A few years ago, there used to be Oliver McCall, Evander Holyfield, Fres Oquendo, James Toney, Jameel McCline, etc.; any of whom could drag a contender deep. Now it's quite hard to find the right fit to test Joshua, Parker, etc. without pushing them too hard too soon.

Apparently Leapai is asking for too much (one way of avoiding a fight) and Ustinov, Molina, Fedesov, Browne (fair enough - he's got Chagaev) and De Mori have already said no.
If you were managing a top 30 heavyweight - who would you let take a fight against Parker?
It's going to be hard to find opponents in the next 12 months is my prediction

I think most heavyweights will be ducking Parker now.

Grailer wrote:I think most heavyweights will be ducking Parker now.

Why? About a year ago everybody already knew he was something big

lowlefthand wrote:Apparently Leapai is asking for too much (one way of avoiding a fight) and Ustinov, Molina, Fedesov, Browne (fair enough - he's got Chagaev) and De Mori have already said no.
If you were managing a top 30 heavyweight - who would you let take a fight against Parker?
It's going to be hard to find opponents in the next 12 months is my prediction

If I managed Anthony Joshua I would have done it, for the other parts, see the names I listed before, I think those are the types of opponends Parker should approach.

Chisora in the UK. Commonwealth belt eliminator, winner fights Whyte/Joshua.

Would Mansour get into NZ with a criminal record?

Eddie Chambers?
Carlos Takam?
Winner or loser of Scott-Thompson?

asdfjkl wrote:

Grailer wrote:I think most heavyweights will be ducking Parker now.

Why? About a year ago everybody already knew he was something big

Yeah but hes improved so much.

he appears to have gained a ton of muscle and strength really fast but kept his speed.

the way hes knocking guys out with one punch any serious opponent is risking more than they will gain when there are
easier ways to the title

He's supposedly fighting again in only 7 weeks so I doubt he'll be fighting anyone decent.

Next year hopefully he'll step up to someone on the Jennings/Cunningham/Takam level.

Rumor is that Parker is fighting in Samoa early next year.

David Tua is possible opponent? would definately be a good fight if Tua is in any sort of shape.

Grailer wrote:Rumor is that Parker is fighting in Samoa early next year.

David Tua is possible opponent? would definately be a good fight if Tua is in any sort of shape.

.....And has a time machine.

Sorry but wake me up when he fights someone who hasn't been stopped before, or even better has a recent notable win. Beating a 45 year old Kali Meehan is meaningless.

Everyone he's fought has been stopped before and not even at world level. Still big questions to ask about this kid.