Champion Joseph Parker enjoys a get-together with David Stephenson (left), Lorraine Stephenson and Mavis Mullins. Photo / Christine McKay
Champion Joseph Parker enjoys a get-together with David Stephenson (left), Lorraine Stephenson and Mavis Mullins. Photo / Christine McKay
Fewer than 24 hours after his third-round technical knockout of Kali Meehan in Auckland, boxer Joseph Parker was break-dancing on stage at the Dannevirke Town Hall.
Parker was the special guest at the Tararua Alliance Sports awards and he won the hearts of the 200 people who packed the hall for the event. Although his commitments following Thursday's night's fight meant he was not in bed until 5am on Friday, Parker was determined to keep his Dannevegas date, despite little sleep and huge media obligations.
"When I make a commitment I stick to it," he told the Dannevirke News.
Joseph Parker break-dancing to Michael Jackson's Beat It on stage in the Dannevirke Town Hall.
"I had a dream and decided to to give 110 per cent to boxing and working with the media is part of the journey and I'm enjoying it and having fun."
In a one-on-one interview with the Dannevirke News Parker talked of living the dream and his 16-0 win record, 14 of them knockouts.
"The biggest challenge is being away from my family because I'm a family person and love being around my parents and siblings. Thank goodness I can Skype them from my training camps in Las Vegas. I couldn't have got here without the support of my parents - they've sacrificed a lot for me."
At the Tararua Alliance Sports awards in the Dannevirke Town Hall on Friday night, Ross Rainham (left), from Palmerston North, talks to John Parker, Joseph's brother, and promoter David Higgins.
With money in the bank Parker has paid off his parent's mortgage and is saving for a home of his own.
"Being able to help my parents, it's the full package," he said.
Promoter David Higgins said Parker "absolutely dominated Meehan" in Thursday night's fight.
"Training three times a day, six days a week, he went into the ring confident and ready. A lot of fighters look stressed and angry as they go into the ring. Joseph, he's comfortable and not tense. That's very rare. He's the best talent I've worked with and a dream because he'll go 10 hours training and then do selfies and interviews and never whinge."
However, Parker said that once the bell goes he switches to beast mode and does the damage.
Once Thursday's fight was over Meehan texted Parker saying: "You are the future."
"That's humbling," said Parker, who trains with Kevin Barry in Las Vegas.
Parker admitted there are times when he asks himself why he is doing it.
"Then I remind myself I'm doing it because I want to be the world champion."
Higgins said although Parker is a "lovely bloke" he still has the killer instinct.
However, going into training camp with heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko in Florida did not turn out the way Parker thought it would.
"I punched him in the eye when we were sparring and he didn't like it," he said. "I'm grateful he invited me into his training camp because I wanted to prove myself against the champ, but he wasn't happy."
And there's no lucky charms. Parker said he doesn't need any. "I've a big team behind me and we can see the results and at training camps I like to be a sponge, I think that's why I'm doing well. I haven't any fight superstitions and don't need lucky charms I work hard."
It was Parker's father, Dempsey - named after the great Jack Dempsey, world heavyweight boxing champion from 1919 to 1926 - who encouraged Parker to box. Brother John, who carried Parker's seven belts into the ring on Thursday, was an amateur boxing champion.
Parker impressed at the Tararua awards, making sure he met and talked to everyone, happy to pose for photos.
"You don't know what your appearance here tonight does for our small town," Dannevirke businesswoman Mavis Mullins told him.
Natarsha Nikora, the Tararua sports co-ordinator for Sport Manawatu, said she was delighted with the success of Parker's visit to Dannevirke.
"He's definitely the boxer to watch and all those at the sports awards will one day be able to say they met the world champion here in Dannevirke.
"He was such a humble guy and genuinely interested in meeting people."
With a Fight for Life on December 5 in Hamilton and a January bout in Samoa next year, there was only time for his guest appearance in Dannevirke before Parker flew back to Auckland to catch a flight to Samoa.
Next he will be off to Las Vegas to train for the Fight for Life after which he will train over Christmas and New Year for the bout in Samoa.
What you didn't know about Joseph Parker:
Top three boxing combo: Throwing punches one, two and then the body shot. Top three food combo: A double whopper. Most asked question: Do you have a girlfriend? Answer: I love boxing. Who would you invite over for dinner? Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali. The hardest punch to take? One to the solar plexus.
5am wake and run five or six miles. Breakfast - porridge, yoghurt and fruit. Nap time. 10.30am to the gym for a two-hour boxing session. Lunch prepared by Kevin Barry's wife. Another nap. 4.30pm back to the gym for conditioning. A healthy dinner, watch television, Skype home, blast out the music and dance, then bed.
