Joseph Parker

Ref appointed for Parker-Joshua unification bout

Quartarone has refereed a world heavyweight title fight before, being in charge of Alexander Povetkin's WBA title victory over Cedric Boswell in 2011.

"We're very happy with the officials that have been appointed," Barry told Sky Sports.

"We've got three judges - one from New Zealand, one from the UK, one from the United States.

"We've got an Italian referee. We signed off on those officials [at the beginning of March]. We're very happy with what the various sanctioning bodies have appointed for us."

     

Impending arrival strengthens Parker's resolve

Already a father to 16-month-old daughter Elizabeth, Parker has revealed he and partner Laine are expecting a second child.

With his much-anticipated clash against British superstar Joshua in Cardiff a little more than two weeks away, the WBO champion from south Auckland believed the impending arrival is just another reminder of what he is fighting for.

Parker depicted as Māori warrior in dramatic new promotional video

The advert for the pay-per-view of his title unification bout with Briton Anthony Joshua blends pictures of both fighters with classic New Zealand landscapes and a Maori chief, while using digital imaging to transpose Tā moko to Parker's face.

"Devastating forces shake the earth beneath our feet," says the narrator in a dramatic monologue.

"Frightening. No chance of retreat. Two beasts so ferocious they cannot be caged.

"Worlds apart, choose a side. Prepare yourself for forces to collide."

Trainer Kevin Barry believes Parker's speed is his power

While much of the pre-fight hype has surrounded Joshua's power, it’s Parker's speed that has his boxing trainer confident of a knock-out win.

Speaking to Andrew Gourdie and Jim Kayes on RadioLIVE, Barry revealed fans should expect a much faster, but no less powerful, Parker in Wales.

"More movement and faster feet…that’s something that we’ve worked on this whole training camp from our flexibility work to our strength and conditioning work, boxing work to our road work," said Barry.

Joshua: Parker tougher fight than Wilder

Between them the three fighters own the four major belts in the sport's glamour division, with Joshua holding the WBA and IBF crowns, Parker the WBO and Wilder the WBC.

With 20 knockouts from a perfect 20-0 professional record, Joshua is favoured to continue that march and add another belt to his collection when he and Parker square off in a much-anticipated unification bout in Cardiff on April 1 (NZ time).

Joseph Parker looking lean and mean as he readies for Anthony Joshua

The Kiwi heavyweight has used the cruel jibe from British talk show host Graham Norton and picked up by Joshua as motivation for his preparations for their world heavyweight unification fight.

WBO champion Parker tangles with WBA and IBF champion Joshua in Cardiff on April 1 (NZT) and the 26-eyar-old is determined to be in the shape of his life.

Five weeks into his Las Vegas training camp, the signs are promising with Parker quickly losing weight and regaining his trademark speed.

If Parker loses “he isn’t good enough”

Parker is set to face his toughest opponent yet when he fights English boxer Anthony Joshua in Cardiff, Wales on March 31 (April 1 NZT).

Barry says there'll be no excuses for losing against Joshua.

 “We think there’s never been a greater time to fight Anthony Joshua and if we don’t win this fight on March 31, it’ll be because Joe’s simply not good enough."

“We think this is the right time and the right guy at the right time.”

Parker agrees and admits 2017 wasn't the best year in boxing for him.

Parker 'on track' for Joshua fight

Parker will put his WBO strap on the line at the Principality Stadium, while Joshua's IBF and WBA belts will also be draped around the victor on March 31.

The pair will finally come together after months of negotiations between the representatives of both camps, the bout confirmed early in 2018.

Ahead of the fight Joshua said he hoped Parker would be fit enough to go the distance in their 12-round contest, and Parker has provided an update that should please the British boxer.

"Training has gone really good," he told Sky Sports News at his Las Vegas training camp.

Deontay Wilder believes Joseph Parker has one big advantage over Anthony Joshua

The highly-anticipated bout will see Joshua and Parker put their IBF, WBA Super, IBO and WBO belts and unbeaten records on the line, as both fighters aim to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

Many pundits out of the UK believe Joshua's size and skill will prove too much for Parker at the Principality Stadium on April 1 (NZ time), but Wilder has a different perspective.

Speaking to Andrew Gourdie and Jim Kayes on RadioLIVE's Sunday Sport, Wilder issued a warning not to be deceived by the Briton's chiselled physique.

WBO champion Joseph Parker turns down Tyson Fury's sparring offer

The 26-year-old is not convinced the 6ft9 Briton offers much insight into the type of bout they can expect in Cardiff.

Speaking to Andrew Gourdie and Jim Kayes on RadioLIVE, Parker admits he appreciates the support, but is happy with the sparring partners they have assembled.

"Tyson Fury's a great guy, but with all due respect to him, I don't think it's the right person to spar because he moves around well for a big guy and he doesn't come forward, and he's a lot taller.