Joseph Parker: 'Dancing' Hughie Fury won't knock me out

Joseph Parker and Hughie Fury Press Conference ahead of their WBO heavyweight boxing title fight in London. Photosport

Joseph Parker says there is little chance of Hughie Fury knocking him out in Manchester on Sunday.

Fury, who turned 23 today, said he would win by KO, but Parker said one look at the Englishman's record would suggest that was unlikely.

Fury, still undefeated as a professional, has won 10 of his 20 fights by knockout. Parker has won 18 of his 23 professional fights inside the distance.

"From what I can see he's in better shape than what I saw last time," Parker told the Herald. "In terms of him winning and knocking me out - I don't know, if you look at his record, I don't know what his percentage is but in 10 weeks you can't really get extraordinary power from having nothing in the beginning.

"Your power can get better, but I don't think he can knock me out. I feel like I'm going to do most of the hunting and he's going to be using the ring and dancing and being awkward."

It remains to be seen what short of physical and mental shape Parker is in, but after disappointing performances in his last two fights - wins over Andy Ruiz Jr (for the WBO world title) and Razvan Cojanu (first defence), Parker and trainer Kevin Barry are adamant the New Zealand 25-year-old is in the shape of his life and with a point to prove in the United Kingdom.

"I feel like some of the things he is saying are forced," Parker said of Fury. "They don't sound natural. I know I've done the work."

Sparring partner Malik Scott, who has travelled with Parker to London, can confirm that, with the experienced American telling Parker the Kiwi's body shots in particular were among the heaviest he has felt.

"I feel for this fight, because of the way the sparring has been going and the whole camp, it [body shots] is going to be a big factor.

"I've landed some good shots - it's good to get that feedback from someone like Malik. He's been in the ring with some of the best in the world. It shows that we're on the right track."

Fury's promoter Mick Hennessy, meanwhile, told the Herald that the late furore over the judges and referee mystified him. Brit Terry O'Connor will be the third man in the ring, with two American judges plus one from the United Kingdom. John Duggan, an American who is the vice-president of the WBO, will supervise the fight.

"To me, they've left it very late in the day to argue the judges; very, very late in the day," Hennessy told the Herald after Parker's promoter David Higgins, a late and vocal arrival, was ejected from the press conference. "Why wasn't this done earlier? You've got to work with the governing body rules and regulations. We've no say over anything - any officials.

"The American officials - we've haven't put in any appeals about them. We're okay, we trust the system, we trust the WBO and the governing body - that it's going to be a fair decision if there's not a stoppage. Why are they going on about the referee? The referee doesn't score the fight."

Parker v Fury at Manchester Arena will be shown in New Zealand live on Sky Arena from 8am on Sunday for $39.95.