Joseph Parker the former WBO heavyweight champion of the world is back in the mix of big fights lately in the sport.
The heavyweight division is buzzing and it is easy to forget there are many contenders all vying for title shots, including Parker.
Speaking to Talk Sport Parker said:
“So you were at the AJ-Daniel fight as well. What a fantastic moment for British boxing! How much has Daniel surprised you, or has he surprised you at all? Some people were saying they knew this was coming, while others couldn’t believe what was happening. Where do you stand with him?
I’m really proud of him. I was there in Sheffield when AJ and Daniel sparred together. You saw it, right? During one of the sessions, AJ and I laughed about it last week, and he said, “Yeah, I didn’t really go down, did I?” Daniel was always going to be here—he’s a big puncher and a good amateur himself. He’s really learned the hard way in many respects. Frank Warren has stuck by Daniel through his hardships and the difficulties after Joe Joyce, when everyone was questioning him. This was also the case a bit after the Usyk fight, too. But what he’s done since then—his big performance against Jarell Miller and then Filip Hergovic against the odds, taking the unbeaten scalp of a guy like Hergovic—has set him up to deal with AJ. I think for Daniel, it’s been a mental battle over the years to get the confidence installed in him. His dad is around him, but I think the fit with Don Charles is particularly good. Don is such a great trainer, both mentally and physically, and he’s gotten through to Daniel, making him believe.
I thought AJ would win by knockout initially, but I did think Daniel had a real chance. Like most, I thought Anthony would come through it. I was actually in the media section during the fight, sitting next to one of the camera guys I was working with, and he said when Daniel walked into the ring, “I just like the look of him. He looks really good.” It was a ruthless display from start to finish; he showed Anthony no respect. He got his jab going, his footwork was fantastic, and he never really let Joshua into the fight.”
Parker won last time out against Zhilei Zhang.
Parker is currently 35-3-23 KO.
