Joseph Parker unleashes in his win over Kali Meehan. Photo/Dean Purcell NZ Herald
Joseph Parker unleashes in his win over Kali Meehan. Photo/Dean Purcell NZ Herald
Joseph Parker's management are focused on securing the undefeated heavyweight title prospect more fights against bigger and taller opponents as he looks to build upon last night's win over Kali Meehan.
Parker rated his third round technical knockout victory at Auckland's Trusts Arena as the most impressive win of hisundefeated 16 fight (14 knock outs) career to date, as he comfortably accounted for his heavier and taller opponent.
Parker's trainer Kevin Barry confirmed Meehan was just the first in a string of king-sized opponents that his young charge will face as his promotions team, Duco Events, look to ramp up his experience against bigger fighters and continue his preparation for a world title challenge.
"That's what we're planning at the moment, another very tall guy," said Barry.
"We plan on fighting Joe against big men and start preparing him against the guys that are wearing the belts at the moment."
The presence of 1.96m Duco stablemate Izu Ugonoh at Barry's Las Vegas training base had assisted both fighter's development over the past year and provided Parker with the ideal sparring preparation ahead of last night's win.
Image 1 of 8: Joseph Parker wins against Kali Meeha.
Duco promoter Dean Lonergan confirmed the time was right to pit the 23-year-old against more fighters with similarly large physiques to ready him for the likes of world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and other leading title contenders.
Parker's next fight is in Hamilton on December 5 with an opponent set to be confirmed in the coming weeks, while the finishing touches are currently being put on a deal for a fight in Samoa in January.
"If you have a look at the heavyweight division right now, you've got Wladimir Klitschko at six-foot-six, you've got Tyson Fury at six-foot-eight, and you've got Alexander Ustinov at six-foot-seven, so we need to fight big guys and that's the plan at the moment."
Lonergan took time to praise Barry's gradual and patient approach to Parker's physical growth and development and paid tribute to the disciplined environment within his Nevada training base.
"Kevin Barry two and a half years ago says 'listen guys, give me two and a half years until we've got a fighter who will start to grow into his body and someone who can really fight'," said Lonergan.
"Kevin's done a stunning job, Joe's obviously put all the work in and done a stunning job as well and they make a fantastic pairing.
"I don't think we'd be anywhere near the level we are out right now with the potential we've got in front of us without Joseph and Kevin being teamed up in Las Vegas.
"And as strange as it sounds, he's away from the distractions of Auckland and he's in Las Vegas where there are no distractions because they live the life of monks with the way they train. Without Kevin and the discipline that everyone's put in in Vegas we couldn't be doing this."
