Joseph Parker visits Samoa after winning the WBO world heavyweight title. 18 December 2016. Photo: Samoa Oserver / www.photosport.nz NZH 20Dec16 - WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker shows of t
Joseph Parker visits Samoa after winning the WBO world heavyweight title. 18 December 2016. Photo: Samoa Oserver / www.photosport.nz NZH 20Dec16 - WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker shows of t
He has been a heavyweight champion of the world for 10 days, but today is the first time Joseph Parker's achievements have truly sunk in.
Officially welcomed to the village of Aufaga on the south side of the main island of Samoa by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi aftera police escort, the welcome has ranked as one of the highlights of Parker's return here.
Children and men in traditional dress ran alongside him chanting as he got out of his car and walked into the village, a racket which set off the local dogs. New Zealand flags as well as Samoan ones were waved as his most ardent supporters celebrated his majority decision victory over Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr at Auckland's Vector Arena almost a fortnight ago.
A short kava session followed which included Parker's promoter David Higgins, who on one of his last visits was bestowed a chiefly title by the village.
When the formalities were over and a scramble for pictures with Parker and his WBO world title belt was brought to a close, Parker and his entourage were whisked to a lunch with the prime minister.
Afterwards, reflecting on his whirlwind tour of the country where his parents Sala and Dempsey were born, Parker said: "It hasn't really hit me until today and then I thought, 'wow'.
"Today when I walked up with these kids, man I was overwhelmed with the celebrations everyone is having. One belt changes Samoa.
"I was happy I won, but to come here and see all the banners, I was like, 'what the heck'?. We stopped at a few villages and I was sweating because I was nervous."
Joseph Parker visits Samoa after winning the WBO world heavyweight title. Photo / Samoa Observer
Spending time with his extended family here will also have brought home the extent of his achievements. Last night Parker visited the home of his grandfather and in attendance were various aunts, uncles and cousins, all of whom suffered the agony of watching his close fight against the tough Ruiz Jr.
One aunt said preferred to watch the fight only after she knew the result.
They all recognise the fact that Parker has created history by becoming the first New Zealand-born heavyweight champion of the world, and the fact that Samoa's profile has been raised significantly as a result.
Now Parker does too, and there are more festivities to come. Tomorrow will feature a parade through the streets of Apia which coincides with a half-day public holiday - for government workers only - and then he will return to Auckland for Christmas with his family.
The 24-year-old will return to his Las Vegas base in early February to begin training for his next fight, which will probably be against Englishman Hughie Fury, in early April. The location of the fight is yet to be decided, but it will probably be in either Auckland or Dunedin.
"When I get back I will start watching and studying him," Parker said of 22-year-old Fury. "From what I've heard, he's a young, hungry fighter as well."
At 1.98m tall, Fury is four centimetres taller than Parker, and significantly bigger than Ruiz Jr, but the Kiwi prefers fighting big men. It's a preference which is likely to serve him well now that he is at the top of the world and with the large Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Wladimir Klitschko lurking.
"Maybe it's easier to go to the body - body, head, body, head - because there's a lot more body to hit," Parker said. "With the shorter opponents, they can tuck in so when I try to go to the body it's a little bit harder.
"I enjoy fighting taller opponents. Hughie could be next, and all the other fighters - Wilder, and Joshua, they're all tall."
*Patrick McKendry travelled to Apia with assistance from Duco Events.
