Parker's chance to make history

Hawke's Bay Today News Editor James Ford. Photo / File

What will be one of the defining moments for a New Zealand athlete is less than a week away.

On Sunday morning many Kiwis will be glued to their screens as Joseph Parker attempts to dethrone Anthony Joshua in his own backyard.

The bout will take place in front of a packed house at Principality Stadium in Cardiff with Joshua's IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight titles and Parker's WBO heavyweight strap on the line.

It's been billed as Road to Undisputed. Whichever man wins the fight will only need to add American heavyweight Deontay Wilder's WBC belt to their haul to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world since Lennox Lewis.

But let's forget what belt means what.

In the modern age of boxing there seems to be more belts than punches thrown. What, in my opinion, is more important, is seeing a Kiwi at the pinnacle of the sport.

For a small boxing nation we punch well above our weight… pun intended.

In the past we've seen David Tua take on the world's best and long before him Timaru boxer Bob Fitzsimmons became the first man to win world titles in three weight divisions: middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight.

But, it must be noted, neither were born on these shores. Tua hailed from Samoa while Fitzsimmons was from Cornwall, England - the son of Irish immigrants.

Tom Heeney was the only other New Zealand-born heavyweight to fight for the world title, in 1928.

Parker will be the underdog in Wales, but that will mean little to a man who has constantly had to prove his prowess.

Good luck, Joseph, from a Kiwi-Englishman.