07-31-2015, 05:35 PM
Joseph Parker adds weight for Tupou fight
A bigger Joseph Parker will fight carefully against hulking Australian heavyweight Bowie Tupou in Invercargill.
31 July 2015
Exciting New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker has added some bulk for his title fight against Bowie Tupou but the Australian will well and truly trump him for size.
Unbeaten Parker chases the 15th win of his professional career on Saturday while Tongan-born Sydneysider Tupou seeks to improve a 10-year record which reads 25 wins from 28 fights.
Tupou, 32, is nine years older than the quick-moving Kiwi and at 1.89m is fractionally shorter.
The biggest difference is weight, with Tupou tipping the scales on Friday at 120.5kg compared to 107.5kg for Parker, which is 1kg up from his second-round knockout of German Yakup Saglam in Palmerston North seven weeks ago.
The Kiwi has only been heavier once before in his career, when he struggled to a seventh-round knockout of Brazilian Marcelo Luiz Nascimento in Germany 15 months ago.
Parker's trainer Kevin Barry said Tupou's heavy frame doesn't necessarily mean he will provide the same easy target as Parker's last three victims - Saglam, American Jason Pettaway and Brazilian Irineu Beato Costa Junior - who were all quickly dispatched by knockout.
"I applaud Bowie for the condition he turned up in if you compare his body shape with his previous couple of fights," Barry said.
"This is the biggest and most important fight in Joseph's career.
"It will continue Joe on his path for the top five in the world, which is outstanding considering he's been a pro for less than three years."
Parker, 23, is widely expected to have too much speed for Tupou, who is trained by Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech but has fought just three times in the last three years, mainly because of injury.
Barry is wary of Tupou's power, particularly his overhand right, and has asked Parker to be extra-careful in the early rounds.
Three belts are on the line - Tupou's WBO African title and Parker's WBO Oriental title and WBA Pacific belt.
NZN
A bigger Joseph Parker will fight carefully against hulking Australian heavyweight Bowie Tupou in Invercargill.
31 July 2015
Exciting New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker has added some bulk for his title fight against Bowie Tupou but the Australian will well and truly trump him for size.
Unbeaten Parker chases the 15th win of his professional career on Saturday while Tongan-born Sydneysider Tupou seeks to improve a 10-year record which reads 25 wins from 28 fights.
Tupou, 32, is nine years older than the quick-moving Kiwi and at 1.89m is fractionally shorter.
The biggest difference is weight, with Tupou tipping the scales on Friday at 120.5kg compared to 107.5kg for Parker, which is 1kg up from his second-round knockout of German Yakup Saglam in Palmerston North seven weeks ago.
The Kiwi has only been heavier once before in his career, when he struggled to a seventh-round knockout of Brazilian Marcelo Luiz Nascimento in Germany 15 months ago.
Parker's trainer Kevin Barry said Tupou's heavy frame doesn't necessarily mean he will provide the same easy target as Parker's last three victims - Saglam, American Jason Pettaway and Brazilian Irineu Beato Costa Junior - who were all quickly dispatched by knockout.
"I applaud Bowie for the condition he turned up in if you compare his body shape with his previous couple of fights," Barry said.
"This is the biggest and most important fight in Joseph's career.
"It will continue Joe on his path for the top five in the world, which is outstanding considering he's been a pro for less than three years."
Parker, 23, is widely expected to have too much speed for Tupou, who is trained by Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech but has fought just three times in the last three years, mainly because of injury.
Barry is wary of Tupou's power, particularly his overhand right, and has asked Parker to be extra-careful in the early rounds.
Three belts are on the line - Tupou's WBO African title and Parker's WBO Oriental title and WBA Pacific belt.
NZN