Joseph Parker has revealed a conversation with his wife has been behind his quick turnaround, with the former WBO world heavyweight champion due to return to the ring next month.
Parker will welcome impressive cruiserweight Jack Massey to the heavyweight division in Manchester on January 22, looking to bounce back from his knockout loss against Joe Joyce in late September.
While many expected Parker to take same time off after that loss, the 30-year-old was adamant he wanted to be back in action quickly. In booking the bout against Massey he will do exactly that, and has returned to Morecambe to link up with coach Andy Lee.
In order to conduct his fight camp for the bout, Parker left his family and the New Zealand summer Christmas for the cold UK winter. Speaking to Sky Sports UK about the fight, Parker said his wife was the reason behind his return to the UK.
“I was at home training but my wife said, ‘You need to get a fight.’ I was training with no purpose and she said, ‘Get back over to England and train and fight again.’ That’s why I’m here, thanks to my wife,” Parker said.