Boxing: Joseph Parker must sparkle in pre-Christmas fight

Former world champion heavyweight Joseph Parker's next fight will be in Christchurch on December 15.

His opponent is yet to be confirmed but the Herald understands it definitely won't be Australian Lucas Browne, who recently stopped the New Zealand-based American Julius Long on the Gold Coast. There is no prospect of Parker and Browne fighting any time soon or possibly at all.

It won't be fellow Kiwi heavyweight Junior Fa, either, although the Aucklander, undefeated over 15 professional fights, will feature in the main undercard bout against an unconfirmed opponent.

Indeed, the name of Parker's opponent at the Horncastle Arena probably won't be recognisable to even boxing aficionados in this country as the New Zealand-Samoan starts his way back to the top after consecutive losses to Brits Anthony Joshua in Cardiff and Dillian Whyte in London.

The bout is designed to give Parker some rounds before he launches his comeback proper next year. A good win — and he will be disappointed to not get a stoppage — could put him within reach of a rematch with Whyte or perhaps a fight against fellow Englishman Dereck Chisora.

"Whoever they put in front of me I need to get the job done — and get it done well," said Parker, who hasn't stopped an opponent since Alexander Dimitrenko in Auckland in October, 2016.

"Having experienced what it is like to reach the pinnacle of the sport, and then come back down again after a couple of tough defeats, I'm more motivated than ever to get back on top," he said.

The fight will be Parker's first in New Zealand in 18 months, a welcome return to home soil after three tough fights in Britain, the first of which was a majority decision victory against Hughie Fury in Manchester.

The result of the Whyte fight, a unanimous decision defeat, was especially difficult to endure because of the head clash — not ruled as such by the referee — which floored Parker in the second round.

Parker was also knocked down in the ninth round, before mounting a dramatic comeback which culminated in him knocking down Whyte in the 12th and final round.

"I could have and should have won that fight, but that's boxing," said Parker. "It's now time to get back to work. I can't wait to fight again in Christchurch. I've got really good memories from my last time there [a fourth round KO of Solomon Haumono in July 2016]. It's a great homecoming for me."

Trainer Kevin Barry, who is Christchurch-born and bred, said: "After a five-year undefeated run that took Joseph all the way to winning the WBO world title we now find ourselves in very unusual territory — coming off back-to-back losses.

"Joe has never been in this position before and needs a top performance."

Also featuring on the undercard of an evening billed as the "Southern Showdown" is Canterbury's Bowyn Morgan, the 19-1 IBO Asia Pacific super welterweight champ, and fellow local Nort Beauchamp, the IBO Oceania super featherweight champion.

Parker's promoter David Higgins, now walking a delicate financial line as he attempts to attract opponents for a world-class fighter on a comeback, said he had several options for the fight venue but that Christchurch had put forward the best case.