Joseph Parker training at the David Haye gym in Vauxhall, London ahead of his World Heavyweight Title fight against Anthony Joshua this weekend. Photo / Matthew Impey / www.photosport.nz
Joseph Parker training at the David Haye gym in Vauxhall, London ahead of his World Heavyweight Title fight against Anthony Joshua this weekend. Photo / Matthew Impey / www.photosport.nz
The Samoan community in Auckland will offer up prayers and devotions as one of its sons gets ready for what could be the greatest fight of his boxing career.
A special service will be held at the Fale o Samoa, the headquarters for the NZ Consulate-general of Samoa, in Mangere,on Friday evening.
It comes after members of the community called for a special event to be held in Auckland ahead of Joseph Parker's world heavyweight boxing title fight against British world heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua, in Wales, on Sunday morning (NZT).
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio said the service was based on Samoan custom where village elders, church leaders and members of the community came together to tapua'i - or support - and offer blessings to someone preparing for a big event.
The event can be anything from an important test, game - or war.
"It's a custom where the whole country wants to send strong messages of solidarity to one of our own who's fighting on the other side of the world. We're proud that he's there.
"He is one of our own - a son of Samoa, a son of Mangere, a son of Aotearoa," Sio said.
"He's about to embark on a difficult and arduous task and those of us who cannot be with him there will gather and beseech to the chief of chiefs, King of Kings in heaven, to bless our son."
The service is expected to be packed out and will be led by the local Samoan Council of Church Ministers.
It will be held on a day - Good Friday - that is already hugely significant to many Samoans who identify as Christian.
It is understood a number of Samoan churches are due to delay Sunday Easter services because of the early morning bout to be aired on Sky TV.
Sala and Lalogafau Dempsey Parker, the parents of WBO heavyweight boxing champion Joseph Parker, at their home in Mangere, South Auckland, last month. Photo / Nick Reed
Another favourite son of South Auckland and Samoa, David Tua, will also speak at the service.
"I think his words will come from a place of experience and a place that he, once upon a time, was once in and which Joseph Parker is now in," Sio said.
"David Tua was the first trailblazer to achieve. And now David and all of our community want Joseph to do so well - just imagine.''
Many of Parker's closest friends and family have travelled to be by his side when he takes on Joshua this weekend.
Among those are parents Lalogafau Dempsey and Sala Parker, who have travelled to be by their son, ringside.
