10-05-2018, 10:20 PM
Former heavyweight world titleholder Joseph Parker to fight Dec. 15
Dan Rafael
ESPN Senior Writer
Former heavyweight world titleholder Joseph Parker will return to the ring on Dec. 15 at Horncastle Arena in Christchurch, New Zealand, his home country, on Dec. 15, promoter Duco Events announced on Thursday.
Parker (24-2, 18 KOs), 26, who does not yet have an opponent, is looking to rebound from what has so far been a forgettable 2018 in which he has lost two fights in a row.
On March 31, Parker lost his belt by lopsided unanimous decision in a title unification bout to Anthony Joshua in Cardiff, Wales, and then on July 28 he lost a close decision to Dillian Whyte in an action-packed fight in which both men were knocked down and Parker came within in a whisker of a knockout victory in the final seconds.
"Whoever they put in front of me I need to get the job done -- and get it done well," Parker said. "Having experienced what it is like to reach the pinnacle of the sport, and then come back down again after a couple of tough defeats, I'm more motivated than ever to get back on top.
"I could have and should have won that fight [against Whyte], but that's boxing. It's now time to get back to work. I can't wait to fight again in Christchurch. I've got really good memories from my last time there [a fourth round KO of Solomon Haumono in July 2016]. It's a great homecoming for me."
Said Kevin Barry, Parker's trainer: "After a five-year undefeated run that took Joseph all the way to winning the WBO world title we now find ourselves in very unusual territory -- coming off back-to-back losses. Joe has never been in this position before and needs a top performance."
Duco Events promoter David Higgins said there were other possibilities for Parker's return, but the team felt it would be good for Parker to fight at home again after the back-to-back road losses.
"We had plenty of options for Joseph's return fight after a couple of tough but highly credible losses," Higgins said. "But Christchurch was a clear front-runner from very early on. We've got great partners in the city."
The card will also include fights involving New Zealand's Junior Fa (15-0, 8 KOs), 28, a top heavyweight prospect and Christchurch's own junior middleweight Bowyn Morgan (18-1, 8 KOs), 29, and junior lightweight Nort Beauchamp (17-2, 3 KOs), 33.
Dan Rafael
ESPN Senior Writer
Former heavyweight world titleholder Joseph Parker will return to the ring on Dec. 15 at Horncastle Arena in Christchurch, New Zealand, his home country, on Dec. 15, promoter Duco Events announced on Thursday.
Parker (24-2, 18 KOs), 26, who does not yet have an opponent, is looking to rebound from what has so far been a forgettable 2018 in which he has lost two fights in a row.
On March 31, Parker lost his belt by lopsided unanimous decision in a title unification bout to Anthony Joshua in Cardiff, Wales, and then on July 28 he lost a close decision to Dillian Whyte in an action-packed fight in which both men were knocked down and Parker came within in a whisker of a knockout victory in the final seconds.
"Whoever they put in front of me I need to get the job done -- and get it done well," Parker said. "Having experienced what it is like to reach the pinnacle of the sport, and then come back down again after a couple of tough defeats, I'm more motivated than ever to get back on top.
"I could have and should have won that fight [against Whyte], but that's boxing. It's now time to get back to work. I can't wait to fight again in Christchurch. I've got really good memories from my last time there [a fourth round KO of Solomon Haumono in July 2016]. It's a great homecoming for me."
Said Kevin Barry, Parker's trainer: "After a five-year undefeated run that took Joseph all the way to winning the WBO world title we now find ourselves in very unusual territory -- coming off back-to-back losses. Joe has never been in this position before and needs a top performance."
Duco Events promoter David Higgins said there were other possibilities for Parker's return, but the team felt it would be good for Parker to fight at home again after the back-to-back road losses.
"We had plenty of options for Joseph's return fight after a couple of tough but highly credible losses," Higgins said. "But Christchurch was a clear front-runner from very early on. We've got great partners in the city."
The card will also include fights involving New Zealand's Junior Fa (15-0, 8 KOs), 28, a top heavyweight prospect and Christchurch's own junior middleweight Bowyn Morgan (18-1, 8 KOs), 29, and junior lightweight Nort Beauchamp (17-2, 3 KOs), 33.