Joseph Parker. Photo / Nick Reed
Joseph Parker's promoters have given their man the best possible chance to win his IBF heavyweight title elimination bout against Carlos Takam by holding it at Manukau's Vodafone Events Centre, about nine kilometres from where he was brought up.
The venue has a seating capacity of only 3,000, compared with
the far larger Vector Arena near Auckland's waterfront, which has a capacity of about 12,000, but Parker's desire for home advantage and the fact it will almost certainly be his last fight in South Auckland, meant Duco Events agreed with his request.
Parker, now based in Las Vegas, has fought twice at the Vodafone Events Centre for comprehensive TKO victories over Americans Brian Minto and Jason Pettaway and is comfortable fighting in familiar surroundings in front of friends and family.
"Potentially it will be the last time he fights in South Auckland for a long time, if not ever," promoter Dean Lonergan said today.
"We thought this was the best possible place to have it. It's only a small capacity but on that night it will be by far and away the biggest sporting event in New Zealand and it will be by far and away the biggest boxing event New Zealand has ever had."
