Parker is slightly heavier than the last time he fought - his victory over Solomon Haumono in Christchurch in July - the result of training camp which has focused more on a weight training regime as he prepares for the biggest opponent in his career.
However, he said his renowned hand speed had remained, saying he is as quick as he has ever been.
The element of risk in fighting Dimitrenko, who has lost only twice in 40 professional fights, was highlighted today by British boxing analyst Steve Bunce, who said Parker was only a 55 per cent chance of winning, but Parker's trainer Kevin Barry said: "I don't care what other people think. We've got a plan in place to have Joseph prepared for when his opportunity arrives. This big man beside him today is part of that plan.
"This is the fight that a lot of people didn't want us to take because it had too much risk.
But we've accepted the risk because we need to prepare Joseph for some of the big men in the world and this is a quality big man."
