Boxing: Parker tips scales at powerful 106.7kg

Joseph Parker, left, faces off with Jason Pettaway this week. Photo / Jason Oxenham

New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker has tipped the scales at 106.7kg for his fight against Jason Pettaway tomorrow night, almost two kilograms heavier than his last bout in December.

American Pettaway, whom Parker will meet at the Vodafone Events Centre at Manukau, weighed in a 100.1kg.

It is the heaviest Parker has weighed heading into a fight, with trainer Kevin Barry saying it was a natural progression of the 23-year-old growing into his body combined with hard training.

"His shoulders are bigger, his back is bigger, his arms are bigger," Barry said. "He's starting to grow into his body and I don't think we're going to see him at 103kg again. He's just filling out, we're doing a lot of strength work - this is the strongest I've had him in the gym."

Pettaway, nicknamed the Technician, will be fitter and faster than Parker's last opponent Irineu Beato Costa Junio.

However, while the fight is scheduled for 10 rounds, it is hard to see it going the distance given the shape Parker is in and Barry's belief that his fighter has improved significantly since his dramatic knockout win over Costa Junior in Hamilton.

"I think it's going to be very difficult for anyone to go the distance with him if he fights like he shows me in training," Barry said. "His skill level has improved another notch from the fight in December.

The style of training I've done with him now, I've believe, after two years in, we're really syncing very well together. He's terrific with his angles, he can attack you on both sides of your body.

"We've been working hard on the left hook, his body shots have got stronger. I think with this fight there's a real challenge with Jason's style... he's quite a good defensive fighter.

The way I teach, if the openings aren't there, you've got to make them. With a guy like Jason we'll have to develop our openings and we have trained accordingly. I can promise you Joe will throw a lot of punches early and a lot of hard punches."

Two undercard fighters provided some extra entertainment at today's weigh-in, held indoors during Auckland Cup day at Ellerslie.

Former Tonga rugby international Finau Maka and the 134.8kg Dave "The Brown Buttabean" Letele had a wrestle on stage prompted by Letele's grip on Maka's throat as they came together for the staredown.

Maka, who weighed in at 115.6kg, showed he has lost few of his rugby skills when he dumped his opponent on stage in a cross between a tackle and a wrestling move.