Boxing: Parker facing big weight disparity

Joseph Parker will be giving away a significant weight advantage against Irineu Costa Beato. Photo / Dean Purcell

New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker will take to the ring against Irineu Beato Costa Junior tomorrow with a weight disadvantage of more than 10kg.

Parker tipped the scales at 104.50kg at the official weigh-in at Claudelands Arena today, with his Brazilian opponent recording 115.40kg.

However, Parker's lighter weight in comparison to Costa Junior will likely be a big advantage. The 22-year-old is fitter and much faster than Costa Junior and said he would use his assets to stay out of the way of his bigger foe.

"He is a big guy but I have trained the house down and I feel good at this weight," Parker, who recorded a similar weight before his last fight in October, said. "I'm going to move around a lot and make him miss with his big punches."

His trainer Kevin Barry said: "We've found that 103kg or 104kg is the best weight for Joseph at the moment for his movement, mobility and output."

Barry said Parker could go up several kilograms next year as he developed and "grew into his body".

In a minor controversy ahead of a corporate bout between Millie Elder-Holmes and Shortland Street actor Frankie Adams, it seems likely that Adams will weigh in over the 68kg limit. Filming commitments prevented her from weighing at the venue today, but she is reportedly 3kg over the limit.

Elder-Holmes weighed in at 68kg and said she wanted her opponent to do likewise.

Adams has until 3pm tomorrow to weigh in. If she remains overweight, she has two hours to lose it or enter into negotiations with Elder-Holmes and event promoters Duco.

"I think she should make weight, obviously," Elder Holmes said.

She said she had taken a very disciplined approach to her first fight and it was only fair Adams did likewise.

"I can't wait, I'm so excited for tomorrow night," Elder-Holmes said.

Weights:

Pro Welterweight bout: Robson Assis: 66.25kg, Jeff Horn: 66.65kg
Corporate bout: Elder-Holmes: 68kg
Corporate bout: Willie Mason: 118.95kg, Ben Tameifuna 142.55kg
Pro Heavyweight bout: Loni Uhila: 125.30kg, Dave "Brown Butterbean" Letele: 136.50kg
Pro Cruiserweight bout: Monty Betham: 88.60kg, Carlos Spencer: 84.30kg
Pro Heavyweight bout: Joseph Parker 104.50kg, Irineu Beato Costa Junior 115.40kg