Boxing: Parker's opponent had Klitschko 'scared'

German Heavyweight boxer Yakup Saglam. Photo / File.

Yakup Saglam, Joseph Parker's next opponent, was sent home from a Wladimir Klitschko training camp because the heavyweight champ couldn't handle the beatings the man known as 'The Scorpion' was handing out.

That's the summary of his dealings with Klitschko of six years ago given today by Saglam ahead of his fight with New Zealander Parker in Palmerston North on Saturday.

It is unlikely to worry the 23-year-old Parker, however, who sparred with Klitschko as recently as April.

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As alluded to by Parker's trainer Kevin Barry, Klitschko is extremely prescriptive with his sparring partners - he doesn't like recklessness or deviations from plans. Sherman Williams, whom Parker beat last year, was another who fell out with the Ukranian.

According to Saglam, Klitschko booked him for two weeks of sparring but could handle only two days.

"It was too hard for him to do sparring with Yakup," Saglam's translator said.

"Yakup thinks that he was pretty much scared and had had enough after two days of being beaten constantly so he left.

"He wasn't there to make friends. He definitely wanted to fight and give his best and he did."

Barry said in response: "I know Wladimir uses a lot of sparring partners. Every time he goes into camp he's always got six to eight different guys there. He's got a very careful mindset on what he wants from those sparring partners.

"The footage that I've looked at from Yakup - he's very physical, he's very aggressive and I can see that the sort of style that he has... Klitschko six years ago may not have liked some of the pressure that he was bringing to him, so I can believe that."

Another good line from Saglam at his press conference referred to the 38-year-old's journey from Germany to Palmerston North.

"He said he has done so much flying recently he is going to be a pilot in his next life."