Joseph Parker should have fought dirty when Dillian Whyte went low - Boxing expert

Joseph Parker and Dillian Whyte fall onto the ropes. Photo / INPHO/Gary Carr

Boxing expert Mike Angove says Joseph Parker didn't live up to his pre-fight talk by showing enough mongrel and needed to fight dirty in yesterday's heavyweight defeat to Dillion Whyte in London.

Parker was handed a second career defeat by majority decision after the fight went the distance. Parker was knocked the canvas in the ninth round before finishing the fight strong.

Angove told the Mike Hosking Breakfast that you can't underestimate what damage Whyte's headbutt on Parker did early in the fight.

Referee Ian John Lewis warned his fellow Englishman about roughhouse tactics at least four times but failed to deduct a point.

"That was a three-point swing round in round two. He was legitimately dropped by a headbutt," Angove said.

"You cannot say how much effect that had on him in terms of concussive. But if you look at the scores, that would take the fight from a win to Whyte to majority draw…so that's a critical moment. At an elite level that can make a huge effect on a fight. It also meant from there Whyte was dominant from three and four as Parker looked really good early. So those moments are critical at an level."

Parker's trainer Kevin Barry yesterday admitted Parker wasn't himself after the headbutt sating "It wasn't until the fifth round that I believe he got everything going again. He was actually dazed from that. And shocked when he came back to the corner."

Angove says Parker should have returned fire with some dirty tactics.

"Yes the referee let it go. He let Dillian do what he did but you have to adapt. Joe needed to show a lot more mongrel in there. When Dillian Whyte hit him low. When Dillian Whyte put his head in his chest, Joe needed to come back and whack him low himself."

According to Angove, Parker showed same weaknesses from previous fights but proved he should be considered an elite fighter following the way he ended the bout.

"The same holes that have existed in the past three or four fights in terms of losing a little bit of condition, backing up to the ropes. Not being first to punch which is critical against Whyte, just waiting and allowing Whyte to lead created real problems for Parker in that fight."

"You have a guy who got up in the ninth round after being felled by a huge left hook which is Dillian Whyte's best punch and he got up. He won 11 and 12 – he arguably won 10 as well. So he's shown he has the tools. What he's lacking at the moment is a complete game. He is working at first phase – he has great first phase attack, he had great speed and he's shown he has power. He's shown he was courage and commitment.

"Where he needs to come back to now is what's happening strategically and how are you going to execute in a fight. That reassessment is something that's going to take place in the next three or four weeks."