Boxing: Parker keen to pay tribute to Collins

Joseph Parker is set to take on Yakup Saglam this weekend. Photo / Getty Images

Kiwi heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker will have Jerry Collins in the back of his mind when he meets Germany's Yakup Saglam in Palmerston North on Saturday.

Parker's career is developing at a rapid rate and the experienced Saglam (34-3, 1 NC) is the latest roadblock that has been put in his path.

But don't let that imposing record fool you, while he has plenty of wins on his resume, Saglam has rarely fought notable opponents. His biggest fights, in terms of credibility, came against Odlanier Solis (20-3) and Manuel Charr (28-3) but he lost both via stoppage inside seven rounds.

LIVE ON SKY ARENA, BOOK NOW

Parker (13-0) was one of the many athletes that was shocked to hear the news about Collins. The former All Black died in a car accident in France last week, alongside his partner Alana Madill; their infant child Ayla remains in hospital.

The south Auckland-raised Parker has Samoan parents and described Collins as a "brother" of his, often referred to as 'uso' in Samoan. The pair first met in 2012.

"I'm going to dedicate this fight to the uso," Parker said. "Jerry Collins was one of the guys that I looked up to and then when I got the opportunity to meet him for the first time, I was excited. We took a lot of photos together. He was a nice guy towards me.
"We partied together at times and chilled together. I have a lot of good memories of Jerry Collins."

This weekend's bout will be Parker's first since he worked with world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (64-3) before his successful title defence in April against American Bryant Jennings (19-1).

"Sparring Klitschko was a big confidence boost for me," Parker said. "My body's feeling strong, my fitness is awesome."

Parker has added swimming to his training regime, which he said had helped his breathing.

Saglam, a 38-year-old who is pegged as the 84th-ranked heavyweight in the world by respected website Boxrec - Parker is billed at No 22 - has a penchant for finishing his sub-standard opponents early with big punches.

"He does throw a lot of big bombs," Parker said. "He likes to throw a lot of right hands and he swings them."

Saglam, who met with Kiwi reporters today and spoke through an interpreter, told the story of how he picked up his nickname of 'The Scorpion'.

"Being The Scorpion is all about his heritage," the translator said. "In his hometown there was a scorpion on the road. A man found it, picked it up and was stung by the scorpion and five minutes later the man died. If you can kill a man in five minutes, then what is there to fear. When you're strong like a scorpion, that's why his name fits him."

Parker, 23, acknowledged the possibility of a dirty fight on Saturday given Saglam has been spotted trying to punch an opponent on the back of their head before, or using elbows, but the German denied that he was such a fighter.

"He doesn't know where you got that information from or where Parker's manager got that from," the interpreter said. "But if you want a dirty fight, if Joseph is going to use dirty tactics, he's going to get them from Yakup too."

Parker's regional titles will be on the line this weekend.