Boxing: Parker prepares to blunt Scorpion's sting

Joseph Parker's next opponent has been confirmed as Yakup Saglam, a 38-year-old from Germany with 37 professional fights to his name.

Parker will fight Saglam, nicknamed The Scorpion, in Palmerston North on June 13. At 1.93m tall, he is the same height as Parker.

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Saglam, who was born in Turkey, will be Parker's 14th opponent since he turned pro. Saglam should represent another straightforward victory for the undefeated New Zealand heavyweight, and his promoters, Duco, are eager to compare Parker's career progression with the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and Lennox Lewis in a bid to fend off criticism that their fighter needs bigger challenges.

Regardless, Parker's profile is rapidly rising in New Zealand, with Duco pleasantly surprised by the response to the fight to be held at Arena Manawatu. The 23-year-old Parker will also fight in Invercargill in August.

Duco's match-maker, Stu Duncan, said Saglam, who has a 34-win (31KO), three-loss record, was statistically the toughest opponent faced by a heavyweight prospect in his 14th fight.

"Wladimir Klitschko's 14th pro fight was against a guy with 18 losses," said Duncan of American Jerry Halstead, who had also enjoyed 84 victories.

"No one disputes Klitschko's gone on to be the most dominant heavyweight of the last decade.

"Turn the clock back slightly further, Lennox Lewis' 14th opponent had lost 10 times while Mike Tyson fought Sammy Scaff, who was 13-6."

It is a potentially difficult period for Duco, who were criticised for putting Parker in the ring against the likes of the experienced Frans Botha and Brian Minto so early in his career, only for the South Aucklander to deliver his best performances in those two victories.

Now expectations are growing among the New Zealand public, and opponents at the next level are becoming harder to attract as many have their own title aspirations or place in the rankings to consider.

Parker also produced a stunning knockout victory over tough Brazilian Irineu Beato Costa Junior in December. By contrast, his fourth-round KO of American journeyman Jason Pettaway in his last fight in May earned only a pass mark from his trainer, Kevin Barry.

Promoter Dean Lonergan said Parker, who has recently trained with Klitschko, should earn a world title shot soon.

"The two current heavyweight champions [Klitschko and Deontay Wilder] each fought more than 30 times before they got their world title shot," he said. "Joseph's road to the title is far steeper but it is paying off in the world rankings."

Parker is ranked eighth by the World Boxing Organisation and 10th by the World Boxing Association.