Joseph Parker's bold claim: 'No excuses' in Derek Chisora rematch

Joseph Parker beat Derek Chisora by split decision in their first meeting. Photo / Matchroom Boxing

Despite having his hand raised after 12 hard rounds, few were left impressed by Joseph Parker's performance in his first meeting with Derek Chisora in May.

Parker was knocked down in the opening round of the fight, and struggled to combat Chisora's stalking pressure through the first six rounds, before ultimately taking over the fight in the later rounds.

It wasn't the best performance of his career, and he'd had better training camps too. The bout against Chisora was Parker's first working with new coach Andy Lee, and the pair only had about five weeks to work together before the bout.

This time around, however, Parker promises things will be different.

"I know we didn't have the longest camp the last time, but we have a much longer camp this time and there's no excuses," Parker said.

The two will square off once more at the AO Arena in Manchester on December 19 (NZ time), looking to settle the score after their first meeting was ruled a split decision in Parker's favour. Both athletes were adamant they won the bout, with Chisora voicing his frustration at the result, calling for a rematch immediately afterwards.

According to statistics from CompuBox, Parker landed 64 less punches than Chisora and at a lower efficiency, while the Brit powerhouse landed more punches than his Kiwi counterpart in seven of the 12 rounds.

Reflecting on the bout at a press conference this week, Chisora said he hadn't watched the fight back, but felt like he clearly won their first meeting.

"I don't watch my fights, because I've been in them so I know what I did," Chisora said. "What do I need to watch it for? I was in it.

"100 per cent I stand by I won that fight. I was the more pressure fighter; I was making the fight happen. All he wanted to do was hold.

"The name of the game is boxing; bite your gum shield and just chuck that leather. There ain't no point trying to tippy-toe in boxing, that don't work. Bite the gum shield and chuck the kitchen sink."

Parker, who has watched the tape back, said he still felt like he was the rightful winner.

"I did watch the fight back, and I thought I won. He thought he won too, that's why we're here again."

Parker has been deep in training camp for the past few weeks, with fellow Kiwi and Olympic Games bronze medallist David Nyika joining him and Lee in the UK for his camp as he will have his second professional bout on the same card.

With more time on their hands this time around, and having had more time between bouts, Parker said he was starting to see improvements with what he and Lee have been trying to achieve and, for the first rematch of his career, he expects things to play out much differently.

"Derek is one tough guy. He comes forward, puts on the pressure and, like he says, he bites his gum shield and throws the kitchen sink. That's exactly what he did and I think that's exactly what he's going to do for the next fight.

"But I feel this fight is going to be different. I've had a lot more time to work on things that Andy has suggested I work on, and now that I'm here with him in camp, my confidence is growing every single day seeing the improvements.

"I feel like I will (do it inside the distance)"