Big punching New Zealander Joseph Parker sent a further warning signal to the heavyweight division tonight, wiping out Bowie Tupou in a little over a minute in Invercargill with a stunning right hook up close that the Tonga born fighter simply didn’t see coming.
Tupou lay motionless, face down on the canvas for a few genuinely worrying moments before eventually being lifted to his feet. The 23 year old Parker improved to 15-0, 13 early with the 1st round victory – his 9th inside 3 rounds.
“All he was worried about was throwing his punches. He wasn’t worried about what was coming back,” Parker said post-fight after his effortless win. “It only went one round and we were prepared to go 12 but we are happy with the victory. What can I say it’s a good night.”
Parker’s trainer Kevin Barry added;
“This is heavyweight boxing. The Invercargill people have shown us a lot of love. I wish for everyone that came we could have got some more rounds but Joseph Parker is a very heavy handed fighter.
“This was his biggest test. We thought we were bringing you a fight that I thought would go six or seven rounds. What Joe has shown tonight, and once again moving up the rankings, is this young man is for real.”
Comparisons will now inevitably turn to Britain’s unbeaten heavyweight star Anthony Joshua (13-0, 13ko) who is following a similar career arc to the young New Zealander, boxing for the Commonwealth title on September 12th against Scotland’s Gary Cornish – a belt Parker and he could potentially end up fighting for in the near future. He blasted out his biggest test – American Kevin Johnson – inside 2 rounds in May.
Barry has confirmed that they consider WBC champion Deontay Wilder the easiest route to a world title and Joshua holds a ludicrously high #2 ranking with that organisation.
“We found out last year when Joe fought five times in a year it really worked for him so we have the same schedule this year. We hope to get a mandatory title shot within the next 18 months to two years”, he said.
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