Boxing: Joseph Parker taps Lennox Lewis after Herald story

Joseph Parker says he s keen to get back to work.Photo / Photosport

Joseph Parker has revealed how a story in the Herald quoting Lennox Lewis prompted him to contact the former great for advice.

Lewis, a former undisputed heavyweight world champion who beat everyone he faced in the ring (either the first time or in a rematch), told the Herald in August after Parker's loss to Dillian Whyte in London that the 26-year-old New Zealand-Samoan had talent but obvious flaws.

They include Parker's tendency to telegraph his right hand and the relative ease at which he can be hit. As a result, Parker, who will begin his comeback with a fight against an unconfirmed opponent in Christchurch on December 15, has invited Lewis into his Las Vegas camp to get that feedback in person.

"Before the article we were keeping in touch and he was saying 'all the best' and 'do your best' and he messaged me [after the Whyte defeat] saying he hadn't watched the fight yet but once he had he would get back to me," Parker said.

"Doing the article showed what he really thinks about what I should be working on. It's not so much changing the team. I have a great team and everyone does a great job. It's about getting advice from someone who has already been there and done that, someone who competed at the top level for a long time and who retired at the top."

Parker has said many times that he is committed to trainer Kevin Barry and promoter David Higgins and that loyalty is unlikely to waver any time soon.

While he is entering a rebuilding phase after his loss to Whyte and before that Anthony Joshua, to whom he relinquished his WBO world heavyweight title, there remain big fights ahead for Parker and as early as next year.

The Herald understands Sky Sports in the United Kingdom is keen on a Whyte v Parker rematch. Sky is a big player in the sport in Britain due in part to its close links with Eddie Hearn, the promoter of both Joshua and Whyte. That in itself would be a big-money fight and a victory would put Parker back in the frame to challenge Joshua again.

Parker, rightly, feels he needs to challenge himself to get to the next level and Lewis' advice could help him achieve that.

"Getting his ideas and feedback ... as a team we can take what we need," Parker said.

"He was open about it; it's not negative.

"When you get feedback like that from a champion ... you have to take it all in. It shows that he thinks I can get better. If he didn't give advice it means he wouldn't care or that I can go to the next level.

"There were a few things in that Whyte fight that happened and we're not going to complain about them or make excuses. He was good, he had a few dirty tactics and did everything he could to win, and I need to learn some of that as well. Confidence-wise, it doesn't really make a difference. I'm going into my next fights knowing that I can win. As long as I train hard and do the work I know I can beat anyone in the world."

Parker, who was scheduled to leave for his 10-week camp in Las Vegas, has enjoyed his break in Auckland, Hawaii and Samoa but is ready to get back into some hard work.

"It's going to be hard but I'm ready to go back and train hard because there are goals that I want to achieve over the next five years.

"I know a lot of people will want to come and see me [fight]," he said of his comeback bout in Christchurch, "but if I can knock him out in the first round, second round, third round ... I just want to land a good one. I've missed that feeling."