Boxing: Former mentor questions hype over Joe Parker win

Multimedia Journalist·NZME.·

7 Dec, 2014 04:00 PM2 mins to read

Joseph Parker secured the most impressive victory of his professional career last night when knocking out Irineu Beato Costa Junior with a stunning right hand in the fourth-round which the Brazilian never saw coming.Millie Elder-Holmes enjoyed a resounding victory in her Fight for Life bout against Frankie Adams last night. Elder-Holmes, boxing on the under-card of the Joseph Parker v Irineu Beato Costa Junior main event, won the three-round fight by unanimous decision. The judges awarded her every round.

Sir Bob Jones has preached caution over the hype surrounding his former charge Joseph Parker.

Jones, who managed the fighter until last year, insisted little significance could be read into Parker's knockout victory over Brazilian Irineu Beato Costa Junior in Hamilton on Saturday.

While Parker has remained unbeaten in 12 bouts and was ranked 10th by the WBA before the win, Jones said neither the record nor the ratings were of particular importance.

"Joseph is working his way along nicely, he's very young and there's plenty of time," Jones said. "But this claptrap about world ratings is just childish.

Watch: Parker's knockout /Elder-Holmes wins

"I get pretty angry with this 'No10 in the WBA' nonsense. Joseph at this stage is unratable because he's too new and so far he's fought a series of nonentities.

"I don't mean that as a put-down but that's the reality. Take the Brazilian, all the puffery about him. Well, have a look at his record. He's been fighting around Brazil and it's not a boxing nation. I'd never heard of this bloke until they named him and I read a lot of boxing material."

Jones, a lifelong fan of the sport, had guided Parker from when he turned professional in 2012 before an acrimonious split with promoters Duco Events in February. Jones was unimpressed with Duco choosing unsuitable opponents for the young pugilist and he remained wary of promoters' long-term plans.

"They're brave buggers, the Duco boys, they'll have a go at anything," Jones said. "It's a pity they don't know a bit more about boxing. There's hundreds of opponents out there and a good 10 opponents where they could step it up a bit."

Jones hoped trainer Kevin Barry would help to ensure the right opponents were now chosen for Parker, with Barry's growing influence inside the ring more than evident in the 22-year-old's fourth-round knockout on Saturday night.

"Joseph is fast and he seems to be developing a bit more impact in his punches ... He seems to be improving but let's not get carried away."