Boxer Jason Pettaway in town to promote his upcoming fight with Joseph Parker. Photo/ Andrew Warner
Boxer Jason Pettaway in town to promote his upcoming fight with Joseph Parker. Photo/ Andrew Warner
When Jason Pettaway met Muhammad Ali in 1991, it changed his life forever.
Two days later the shy, tall 11-year-old, from Huntington, West Virginia in the US, asked trainer Terence Kelly if he could help him become a boxer.
It began an unbroken 23-year partnership between the two.
"I wasin a Big Brothers, Big Sisters programme and I went to the Golden Gloves and got to meet Ali," Pettaway said. "I fell in love with the sport and have been ever since."
Pettaway, 34, is set to fight New Zealand's undefeated heavyweight Joseph Parker, 22, in Auckland on March 5. He has an impressive record of 17 wins, one loss, 10 knockouts in his professional career with the loss to Russian giant Magomed Abdusalamov.
Trainer Terence Kelly and Boxer Jason Pettaway in town to promote his upcoming fight with Joseph Parker. Photo/ Andrew Warner
"I would like to execute on some of (Parker's) flaws. Mainly I noticed that after he punches he kind of brings his hands down and I am sure that he will be working on that at training camp," said Pettaway.
"There are a few other things but I'd rather not discuss and keep between me and the training camp."
But Pettaway is not predicting a knockout win over Parker.
"I can match him in size so I think it will be a great challenge for both of us. But I am not actually going for the knockout. I think that would be the wrong approach. I want to like really box, make use of my time in the ring and not make any mistakes.
"I would not have took this fight if I didn't believe I could beat him. He definitely has great speed, a great jab and he likes to put two or three shots together.
"This fight means so much to me. I have so much to gain and it is a really great opportunity."
For Pettaway and Kelly it was their first visit to the Western Bay but they were aware of one local resident.
As they admired the view across to Tauranga from Pilot Bay, Pettaway asked "where does that AC/DC drummer (Phil Rudd) live?"
