Joseph Parker (R) knocks down Jason Pettaway. photo / Getty
Joseph Parker recalls his 18 professional fights to date ahead of fight number 19, a heavyweight eliminator against Carlos Takam on Saturday.
Dean Garmonsway (left) looks for cover during his fight against Joseph Parker. Photo / Greg Bowker
July 5, 2012 v Dean Garmonsway (New Zealand), Sky City,
Auckland
Opponent's record: 2-1-0
Result: Round 2 TKO
Importance: 3/5
Parker's take:"A big fight for me. Coming out of the amateurs and with the aim of starting well, to win that fight was a good relief. I know people were thinking about whether I was good or not. It was a good starting point."
November 9, 2012 v Terry Tuteru (New Zealand), Trusts Arena, Waitakere
Opponent's record: 0-9-1
Result: Round 2 KO
Importance: 1/5
Our take: A straightforward victory for Parker, who quickly made his superior class evident. First of several fights at Trusts Arena.
Richard Tutaki, left, and Joseph Parker, right, during their weigh in at SkyCity. Photo / Brett Phibbs
December 15, 2012 v Richard Tutaki (New Zealand), Trusts Arena, Waitakere
Opponent's record: 20-22-1
Result: Round 2 TKO
Importance: 1/5
Our take: Another comfortable victory, albeit one against a relatively experienced Kiwi fighter.
February 28, 2013 v Dontay Pati (New Zealand), Hornby Workingmen's Club, Christchurch
Opponent's record: 0-1-0
Result: Round 1 TKO
Importance: 1/5
Our take: Parker would have had tougher sparring sessions than this as an amateur. Still, it was his first fight outside Auckland as a professional.
May 16, 2013 v Bryce Ritani Coe (New Zealand), Hyatt Regency Hotel, California
Opponent's record: 3-1-1
Result: Unanimous decision
Importance: 3/5
Parker's take: "It was my first fight under Kevin Barry. I had been with him for four weeks and this was a test. Brice was a tough guy who hadn't been stopped. He kept coming forward. I put my trust in Kev and during the fight, everything flowed nicely. Going the distance taught me more."
Francois Botha and Joseph Parker do battle. Photo / Sarah Ivey
June 13, 2013 v Francois Botha (South Africa), Trusts Arena, Waitakere
Opponent's record: 48-9-3
Result: Round 2 TKO
Importance: 4/5
Parker's take: "This was four weeks after the Coe fight. A lot changed for me. I lost a lot of weight. I trained hard and I was confident but a little nervous. Francois is an experienced guy. Finishing in two rounds felt like the turning point in my career. More people started taking an interest in me."
Joseph Parker in action during his fight with Afa Tatupu. Photo / Dean Purcell
October 10, 2013 v Afa Tatupu (New Zealand-Samoa), Trusts Arena, Waitakere
Opponent's record: 9-4-0
Result: Round 2 TKO
Importance: 3/5
Parker's take: "That was a war. A lot of people said my chin had never been tested. I wanted to show I could go to war and wouldn't back down."
Parker, who suffered a cut over an eye, the result of an accidental headbutt, was later admonished by Barry for getting carried away.
April 26, 2014 v Marcelo Luiz Nascimento (Brazil), Koenig Pilsner Arena, Oberhausen, Germany
Opponent's record: 17-5-0
Result: Round 7 TKO
Importance: 4/5
Parker's take: "The whole event was different. We were used to fighting in NZ. I dropped him in the first but he came back and I had to dig deep because he was gaining the whole time. He ruptured my left ear drum with a right in the fifth which caused a few problems but I was able to overcome it."
Joseph Parker on his way to beating Brian Minto by TKO. Photo / Peter Meecham
July 5, 2014 v Brian Minto (USA), Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau
Opponent's record: 39-7-0
Result: Round 7 Retired
Importance: 3/5
Parker's take: "He was a tough guy and in good shape. When he beat Shane Cameron, people thought he was the real deal and that I would have a big challenge but I hit a new level of focus in training and was able to overcome him."
August 9, 2014 v Keith Thompson (USA), Bethlehem Events Centre, Pennsylvania
Opponent's record: 7-2-0
Result: Round 3 TKO
Importance: 1/5
Our take: Really an "add-on" fight, with Parker playing second fiddle on the card to then Duco stablemate, Kiwi Robbie Berridge, a light heavyweight comprehensively beaten by Vasily Lepikhin.
Joseph Parker faces off against Sherman "The Tank" Williams during the weigh-in. photo / Dean Purcell
October 16, 2014 v Sherman Williams (Bahamas), Trusts Arena, Waitakere
Opponent's record: 36-13-2
Result: Unanimous Decision
Importance: 3/5
Parker's take: "I landed more punches than he did, including some clever ones. He thought he won but we knew we had it in the bag. I would've loved the knockout, but sometimes you have to be tested. I landed big shots, threw combinations, and proved my endurance was good in going 10 rounds."
December 6, 2014 v Irineu Beato Costa Jnr (Brazil), Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
Opponent's record: 15-1-0
Result: Round 4 KO
Importance: 3/5
Parker's take: "That was a good end to the year, my final exam. In that fight, I executed correctly. Everything went to plan."
Brazilian champion Costa walked into a right hand from Parker and was unconscious before he hit the floor, proving Parker had power as well as speed.
Joseph Parker (R) knocks down Jason Pettaway. photo / Getty
March 5, 2015 v Jason Pettaway (USA), Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau
Opponent's record: 17-1-0
Result: Round 4 TKO
Importance: 1/5
Our take: Parker wanted this fight over quickly and his impatience was clear. He was perhaps lucky not to be disqualified as he glanced Pettaway with a punch while the American had a knee on the canvas.
July 13, 2015 v Yakup Saglam (Germany) Manawatu Arena, Palmerston North
Opponent's record: 34-3-0
Result: Round 1 KO
Importance: 1/5
Our take: Saglam, the German national champion, got an early taste of Parker's speed and power and wanted little more in front of a raucous crowd in Palmerston North.
Joseph Parker and Bowie Tupou weigh-in. photo / Getty
August 1, 2015 v Bowie Tupou (Australia) Stadium Southland, Invercargill
Opponent's record: 25-3-0
Result: Round 1 KO
Importance: 1/5
Our take: A similar result to his previous fight in front of a similarly enthusiastic crowd. A fight which solidified Parker's appeal around the country.
Joseph Parker (Black) in action against Kali Meehan. photo / Deaa Purcell
October 15, 2015 v Kali Meehan (New Zealand), Trusts Arena, Waitakere
Opponent's record: 42-5-0
Result: Round 3 TKO
Importance: 3/5
Parker's take:"There was a lot of hype around this fight because of Kali's record and experience and the fact he had beaten Shane Cameron. A lot of people thought this would be a big test for me, and it showed my continued development."
December 5, 2015 v Daniel Martz (USA), Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
Opponent's record:14-2-1
Result: Round 1 TKO
Importance: 1/5
Our take: Really, this was a "stay busy" fight for Parker before his trip to Samoa to fight the awkward Jason Bergman.
January 23, 2016 v Jason Bergman (USA), Faleata Sports Complex, Samoa
Opponent's record:25-11-2
Result: Round 8 TKO
Importance:3/5
Parker's take: "It was an amazing experience fighting in Samoa. It was special. Bergman was a good test. It's very different fighting a southpaw and someone always on the defensive." The humidity affected both men, and Parker was perhaps too keen to finish the fight spectacularly.
July 21, 2016 v Carlos Takam (Cameroon), Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau
Opponent's record: 33-2-1
Importance: 5/5
Our take: The biggest challenge of Parker's career. A win will push him to the brink of glory and riches - an IBF heavyweight world title fight likely against Anthony Joshua. A boxing insider told the Herald: "The Takam fight isn't one step up for Joseph, it's three or four."
In her debut at Madison Square Garden, the 30-year-old produced a 'total beatdown'.