Joseph Parker (with belt) has support from his dad, Dempsey (left), mum Sala and brother John ahead of today s heavyweight fight in Cardiff. Photo / photosport.nz
Joseph Parker (with belt) has support from his dad, Dempsey (left), mum Sala and brother John ahead of today s heavyweight fight in Cardiff. Photo / photosport.nz
It has been a family affair in Cardiff in the past few days.
Joseph Parker's brother John is here along with mum and dad Sala and Dempsey, and trainer Kevin Barry has wife Tanya and children Taylor, who helps him in the gym, and Taylor's twin Mitch and their sisterJordie supporting. Kevin's brother, Brian, will be in Parker's corner, too.
A significant absentee is Joseph's sister, Elizabeth, who can't bear to watch him or John fight live - preferring to wait until she knows the result before watching the replay.
"Elizabeth loves her brothers dearly ... but the thing is she can't watch her brothers fighting," Sala told the Herald on Sunday. "She will wait for the result. She wants to know the outcome first."
Joseph's pregnant partner, Laine, who keeps a low profile, has also remained in Auckland with their 16-month-old daughter, also named Elizabeth.
Sala, the family matriarch and a significant member of Parker's management team (which is separate from his promotional team led by David Higgins), led the family in prayer last night on the eve of the biggest fight of Joseph's career.
"We say our prayer ... we ask God for strength and help and for protection for both fighters," she said.
Joseph Parker (with belt) has support from his dad, Dempsey (left), mum Sala and brother John ahead of today s heavyweight fight in Cardiff. Photo / photosport.nz
Joseph has always been close to his parents. In New Zealand, he always kisses his mum before getting into the ring. That isn't likely to happen in the seething cauldron of the Principality Stadium in Cardiff filled by 78,000 people this morning, but he will follow uncles Su'a and Rudy to the ring, and Kevin Barry, a father figure now after their five years together in Las Vegas, will likely kiss him on the check before the 26-year-old heavyweight hears the first bell.
Sala said Parker's excellent preparation had given her confidence and his conduct while in the UK had further eased her concern about her eldest son's safety in the ring.
"I arrived with lots of worries, but since I've been watching him every day in the gym, he's improving a lot and that really gives me comfort.
"This is a new Joseph, this is a new transformation, and I can't wait. I can't wait to watch him execute what he's been learning for the last eight or nine weeks."
That family bond has been important in Joseph's development and has helped keep him grounded since he turned professional in 2012. In fact, he made the move only after a serious discussion with his closest advisers.
"Right before he turned pro, we sat down as a family and we said, 'Joseph, you are going to face the toughest challenges in your life with this career. The more people that are negative about you, use that as a positive and train hard and prove that you can be better than what people think'. That was something we wanted to get into his skin so it didn't affect him in the long run," Sala said.
Parker has become increasingly popular in the United Kingdom since his arrival and is set to fight here again no matter today's result. Much of that has come from his attitude towards others, one that has been instilled by his parents since childhood.
"He has shown the deepest respect for everyone in this foreign country. That's why a lot of people around here are treating him with respect," Sala said. "It's wonderful."
Joshua, Sala believes, hasn't relished the build-up to the same extent. "He seems like a nice guy, a nice person [but] seems to be taking it personally. He's got to understand that this is a sport; you've got to enjoy it and look forward to the challenge."
