(07-24-2015, 10:48 PM)tm7 Wrote: [ -> ]I'd love to know that free website, based in the UK but sick of reading round-by-round updates from people who don't know anything about boxing...
Happy to pm or email anyone who wants to know the site - Saglam fight was good quality
Count me in please Sir gothenaki
Kevin Barry keen on Joseph Parker taking All Blacks' path and fighting in Samoa
Unbeaten New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker could be fighting in Samoa in the new year.
Rising New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker is set to follow in the footsteps of the All Blacks and fight in Samoa.
Plans are firming with a January 23 date in place, and promoters Duco Events now busy working around the logistics of making that happen.
They are in talks with the Samoan government and tourism bosses there, and looking for the right partners in the island nation.
READ MORE:
* Barry: Tupou 'not good enough'
* Tupou tipped to end Parker's run
The scale of the operation could see Parker fight outdoors at Apia Stadium to accommodate the expected size of the crowd, given Samoa's strong support for him. The plans include making tickets affordable to the local market.
It would be an emotional "homecoming" for Parker, whose Samoan parents still own property there. Parker regularly holidays in Samoa.
The 23-year-old wants the fight to happen, his family want the fight to happen and his trainer Kevin Barry has an extra incentive to see his charge step into the ring in Apia.
"I think it is fantastic. Watching the All Blacks being there, I thought it was massive and all I could think about was what it would be like to take Joe over there to fight," Barry said.
"That's one thing that I have always regretted with my 12 years with David Tua … that we never did a fight in Samoa.
"Here we are in our third year of Joe's career and we are looking to take this fight there. It will be huge, the country will come to a standstill.
"It will mean a lot to Joe, it will mean a lot to Joe's parents and his relations."
Duco Events boss David Higgins said any timing of a Samoan fight would be tied in with a New Zealand television audience that would be "essential" to the deal going ahead. He anticipated the fight being broadcast in Australia and further afield.
"The recent All Blacks game showed what can be done there, which is encouraging," Higgins said. "We also have a very good relationship with TV3 Samoa who show all of Joe's fights.
"We want to make this happen. There's work to be done but we believe it's possible."
The fight would continue a busy schedule for Parker, who is unbeaten over 14 professional fights and continues to rise up the rankings.
He fights respected Australian Bowie Tupou in Invercargill next Saturday and has fights scheduled in Auckland in October and Hamilton in December.
His handlers want to see him fight five times next year as they try to manoeuvre Parker towards a world title fight.
The Tupou fight has proven an unexpected bonus in that area. Ranked No 8 by the WBO and No 10 by the WBA, Parker's management are desperate to get him into the WBC rankings that are headed by the vulnerable Deontay Wilder. That's an easier route to a title fight than through the other organisations that have the imposing Wladimir Klitschko as their champion.
Parker's promoters have convinced the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation, an organisation with strong links to the WBC, to put their vacant heavyweight title up for grabs. As a result, the winner in Invercargill is likely to go to No 15 in the WBC rankings.
"That is something that we have been working on for a long, long time," Barry said. "Once we start getting in the rankings with the WBC then we are on a path to be taken seriously as a contender to Deontay Wilder.
"That's a path that I like for Joe. We're very excited."
A win in Invercargill would also enhance Parker's standings with the WBO. Tupou brings that organisation's African belt to the fight. Parker already holds their Oriental title. It's conceivable Parker could go as high as No 5 with the WBO, who will have two senior officials ringside in Invercargill.
Their presence is a further sign of the growing interest in Parker, who continues to gain strong international media attention.
Higgins and his Duco Events partner Dean Lonergan spent last week in New York talking to officials from American broadcasting giants ESPN, HBO and Showtime.
"We had great discussions with all of them," Lonergan said. "The higher up the rankings Joe goes, the more interest there is in him and they are acutely aware of his progress, especially Showtime.
"They like Joe's record … not just who he has fought but how he has won. They see him as exciting.
"There is a market there for Joe and it's important that we keep him busy."
The challenge is finding the right opponents. The higher Parker gets, the more difficult it is to find respected fighters willing to put their own rankings and title hopes at risk against such a dangerous youngster.
- Stuff
There was a balance of 1.5 million bucks after the ABs left. Apia won't rush into the boxing paraphenalia with overheads still hanging in that category...
(07-27-2015, 04:26 PM)shamrock Wrote: [ -> ]There was a balance of 1.5 million bucks after the ABs left. Apia won't rush into the boxing paraphenalia with overheads still hanging in that category...
That's one way of looking at it. They threw a massive party in Apia with heaps of entertainment, public festivities and brought an event to Samoa they've been crying out for. The locals loved it.
No way the Samoans are going to invest $3.4 million to put on a boxing event, so not really apples for apples. Duco will have to take on the risk.
JP wants to do it for his parents, so I give it a chance of happening
Yep agreed duco will have to shoulder the responsibility and consequences of a low income society. KB will see himself in a chiefs seat as Hansen did
Remember the Samoan team that came over here several years ago, with the bigwigs spending large. Believe I'd check the balance sheet before I paid the 1.5 million.
Duco, if nothing else, will make sure they turn a profit.
Jeff Fenech backs Bowie Tupou to knockout Kiwi heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker
Heavyweight boxers Bowie Tupou and Joseph Parker square off at a media conference in Auckland ahead of their fight in Invercargill.
Boxing hall of famer Jeff Fenech is backing his fighter Bowie Tupou to deliver the knockout blow required to beat rising New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker.
Australia's three-weight world champion has been training Tupou for Saturday night's showdown in Invercargill and says the only way they will win is to put Parker on the canvas.
Fenech has promised early action in the quest to achieve that, acknowledging that the longer the fight goes on, the tougher Parker will be to beat.
"I believe Bowie will take Joseph Parker somewhere he hasn't been before," a confident Fenech declared as the fighters squared off at media conference in Auckland on Tuesday.
"He will do something to Joseph, especially over those first six rounds, that Joseph has never experienced before.
"I believe the only way that Bowie can win the fight is by knockout so we have trained to knock Joseph Parker out."
Fenech said he had been impressed by Tupou's work and attitude during their six-week training camp.
"Bowie has caused a lot of damage in the gym. He has knocked out opponents, he has dropped opponents with body shots."
Fenech had assembled Australia's best heavyweight talent, including Kali Meehan, Lucas Browne, and Solomon Haumono, to help Tupou's preparations for an opponent he clearly respects.
"Bowie sparred with all the best [Australian] heavyweights out there and had no problems whatsoever. He has come through unscathed. He will give Joseph Parker the real test that needs finally."
Much of the buildup to this fight, that has the WBO's Oriental Pacific (Parker) and African (Tupou) belts on the line as well as a potential No 5 spot in that respected organisation's rankings, has centred on Parker' supposed susceptibility to an overhand right.
Fenech reiterated that, but also added some perspective to the task in front of Tupou.
"One punch isn't going to be enough to knock Joseph Parker out. We have to punch in bunches and that's what we have done," Fenech said.
"Joseph will certainly be tested. This is a chance that Bowie has really needed. I believe that Bowie will cause a huge upset."
Tupou was more modest than his trainer, saying simply that he was well-prepared and believed he had what it takes to win.
Parker's trainer Kevin Barry believed Fenech's fight plan to attack heavily over the opening six rounds was "sensible" under the circumstances, but he backed his man to cope with the expected early storm.
"We have trained very hard to prepare for 12 rounds. The fight might be one round, but if it's 12 rounds I can promise you Joseph Parker will still be up on his toes and sticking that jab in Bowie's face at the end of the 12th round," Barry said.
Parker said he respected Tupou's power but he backed his own punch and his other skills to gain his 15th consecutive victory as a professional.
"I have to bring my A-game and show the defence we have been working on. We are going to box smart and use my height and be victorious at the end," a calm Parker said.
A stiffer test then Jo is used to, but he should win
