Joseph Parker has a significant new training partner at his Las Vegas base - former kickboxer Izu Ugonoh, a Pole of Nigerian descent who has the same physical characteristics as the New Zealand heavyweight.
Parker's trainer, Kevin Barry, has agreed to work with Ugonoh, slightly taller than the 1.93m South Aucklander, and wants promoters Duco to sign him up, believing he has great potential as a boxer.
Meanwhile, the two fighters have been training together and have sparred four rounds. Ugonoh will fight on the undercard of Parker's main event against Sherman Williams at Waitakere on October 16.
"It's great to have Izu here. We're both after the same goal, we're teammates now. He's focused, I'm focused. He works hard and it's inspiring - we're helping each other up our skills and techniques," Parker said.
Ugonoh, 27 and unbeaten in nine fights as a professional boxer, said: "It's definitely easier training hard while you have company. I believe we can do much better work together."
