Fired-up Parker full of fatherly instinct

New Zealand Heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker v French Cameroon boxer Carlos Takam.

The recent birth of his daughter pushes boxer as he prepares for his most important fight, writes Simon Plumb

New dad Joseph Parker says his baby daughter will be at the front of his mind as he steps into the ring for next weekend's world heavyweight showdown against Andy Ruiz Jr.

The Kiwi champ became a dad for the first time less than three weeks ago, with high-school sweetheart Laine Tavita giving birth to a healthy baby girl, Elizabeth Ah-Sue Sala Parker.

Parker, 24, has earned a classy reputation, often marketed as a "Gentleman Joe". But, he says, holding his little Elizabeth for the first time has instilled a primal spirit into him ahead of next weekend's WBO title shot against Andy Ruiz Jr.

The instincts are pretty raw. As a parent, it's extra motivation going into this fight now.

Joseph Parker

"As a father, you want to protect, but I also want to prepare her for when she grows up, so I want to be a great example as a dad."

Parker missed Elizabeth's November 14 Auckland birth while away training in Las Vegas - for what will be the biggest bout of his career so far. With the fighters' fees well into seven figures, victory on Saturday night could tee-up a multi-million pay-day against British heavyweight David Haye.

But in the short-term Parker says it was just a relief to get back home and hold his daughter for the first time - having been shocked by the sight of his little girl.

"It was pretty surprising, she's so small, I just stared at her," Parker said. "It's an amazing feeling, having a little child. I love it.

"I missed the birth but it's good to be back. The main thing is she's healthy and strong."

Parker says the birth has made him think a lot more about his parents, Sala and Dempsey, heading into the Ruiz Jr fight, particularly reminding him of the early days when his folks turned the home garage into a makeshift gym.

"Without the help of my parents, the roles they played, I wouldn't be in this situation. I wouldn't be fighting for the world title," Parker said.

"They put a lot into me - time, money, everything - when I was young.

"Right next to my bedroom, dad made a chin-up bar with a rowing machine and a treadmill. From there as years went by, we were able to get a bit of funding and Dad got all these people involved and built a gym at home.

"His passion for the sport is pretty much like mine, we love boxing, he's named after Jack Dempsey, one of the champions of old."

A sweet and welcoming woman, a rare, deadly serious look flashes breaks across Sala's face when asked whether she still gets nervous before her sons' fights - with John Parker, 22, also on the undercard.

But, she says, next weekend is the realisation of why she and Dempsey made all their sacrifices to help Parker to the top.

"This is where he wanted to get to, a world title fight," Sala said. "His first time in the ring was around aged 10, he won his first fight but for me it was more for self defence.

"In the early days he would go out for a run in winter, we felt so sorry when it's wet and cold so we turned the garage into a miniature gym. That's how it all started out.

"But he's very talented, not just boxing either, he can play piano, guitar, and he's got a beautiful singing voice - though he can be a bit shy with that."

But rather than add to an already packed training schedule ahead of Saturday's bout, Parker says he's still managing to get plenty of sleep and everything's "flowing great" with baby on board.

But he admits he is looking forward to having some time to properly get to know his new addition.

"I still have a lot of things going on at the moment with this fight at the monent, but I feel like it has changed me," he said.

"I think after the fight when I have more time to spend with her and relax a bit, it'll hit me a lot harder."