Boxing: Joseph Parker preparing well and feeling the love

Heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker during a training session with trainer Kevin Barry. Photo / Photosport

Heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker has expressed excitement for his upcoming title fight against Andy Ruiz Jr. in an interview with Tony Veitch this morning.

"I think everyone's excited. We're gonna make history, you know, bringing the fight here and then hopefully winning the fight. I think everyone's just waiting to see what's going to happen," said 24-year-old Parker.

Given all of the build-up surrounding the heavyweight bout, Parker said that he is finally used to the ins-and-outs of professional boxing.

"It's a big deal, and it's a great deal. I think it comes down to the lessons I've learned along the way.

"In the beginning stages I was quite nervous and quite fresh on the scene whereas now we've done this 21 times, I think I'm getting quite used to it, but also with the training I've done it keeps me happy because I know that I've done the work and I'm prepared for this so now I'm ready for this challenge."

There has been no shortage of support for Parker as he prepares to take on Ruiz Jr. at Auckland's Vector Arena.

"I can see it everywhere, everywhere I go there's a lot of people showing their support, bumping into people, 'Hey can I get a photo', 'Hey good luck', 'Hey, we're cheering you on'.

"The support is amazing and I'm just so grateful that the fight's here and grateful for the support that we've been getting. When I get to the fight on Saturday and I get into that stadium and when I look around and I see everyone that's going to be cheering us on I'm gonna absorb that energy and use it as strength."

Parker is excited to experience the atmosphere at Vector Arena and said he has already visualised all aspects of the fight.

"It will be on another level. I've been to Vector Arena and I've seen it, I've stood in the middle and just appreciated the space, appreciated the volume of the place", said Parker.

"I've actually visualised arriving, I've visualised being in the ring, I've visualised doing well in the fight and also being under pressure so I think visualisation is very important."

Parker also provided insight on the 'Beast Mode' mentality he takes into his fights.

"'Beast Mode' is like, I'm quite relaxed and quite calm outside of the ring, but I have this new focus where I feel like this is the most focused I've ever been in a fight. I feel like when I'm in that ring it's gonna be a different me.

"I feel like this is my time to shine, I feel like this is my time to show everyone all the skills and techniques, it's been three years since I turned professional, it's time for me to show everyone all those things I've been learning along the way, I want to turn on 'Beast Mode' but in a controlled fashion."

The 1.93m Parker who weighed in at 111.9kg was asked by Veitch if he feared failure, something that plagues the minds of many athletes.

"I know that there is failure, but if you're prepared you can accept whatever happens in the ring. If I win, great, and I'll move on and that's my goal obviously, is to win. If I do lose I have to accept it and I have to get back out there, train hard and just move on, it's not the end of the world."