Parker: 'It was a struggle to get fights'

Joseph Parker has opened up about the challenges attached to progressing through the amateur ranks on the way to reaching the bright lights of professional boxing.

Speaking to recently launched The Boxing Files podcast, Parker talked about the highs and lows of fighting in as an amateur in New Zealand.

The Kiwi heavyweight joined the Papatoetoe Boxing Gym as a kid and had his first fight as a 12-year-old under the guidance of coach Grant Arkell.

He described himself as a chubby 12-year-old kid who beat an even chubbier kid.

At 17 years of age, Parker captured plenty of attention in the New Zealand amateur boxing scene when he knocked out the highly-regarded Yamiko Chinula, who was 26, nine years his senior.

“I remember everyone was talking about this guy Yamiko Chinula who had been around a long time and he’s had a great career travelling the world representing New Zealand,’’ Parker told The Boxing Files.

“They only told me this at the tournament, but Grant already said, ‘hey, this is the fight you need to take, and I believe in you’. I remember that night I was tired, but at the end I was able to knock him down.

“That’s when New Zealand amateur boxing took notice.’’

However, as Parker’s progression continued the fights started to dry up.

He would show up to tournaments and there were no opponents for him. Parker would win titles by default.

He needed to head overseas to get fights, or bring fighters to New Zealand, but that all came at a cost.

“As an amateur heavyweight, there is not a lot of fights out there. It was a struggle to get fights.

“But also, family members and my coach had to fund a lot of my trips…. There were a lot of trips funded by my parents using their credit cards, and Grant Arkell funded my trip to Azerbaijan.

“Boxing New Zealand didn’t have a lot of money or support for funding to be able to help with the travelling and representing our country.’’

Parker recalls attending the Youth World Championships in 2011 in Azerbaijan with fellow Kiwi amateur boxer Nikolas Charalampous.

However New Zealand Boxing did not have the funds to send a coach with the two teenagers.

They sent them on their way and organised for them to link with the Australian team.

“We met them in Dubai, so we travelled all this way, these two young kids, and we met this

Australian team in Dubai. No idea what they looked like.

“We were walking through the airport and we see these people with Australia jackets on, we said,’ hey, guys I think we are supposed to be with you’.’’

Parker made the decision the following year to turn pro after missing out on a spot at the Olympics.

Oceania had just one heavyweight spot available which went to Australian Johan Linde.

It was a frustrating moment for Parker after a decade long journey.

He felt he could have been in medal contention if he got to attend the 2012 Olympics in London.

“I lost the qualifying tournament, but I remember not long after that I travelled to Serbia for a

competition. The fighters that were there, the German fighter, who was No 2 seed in the world, there was Johan Linde and there was another fighter who I beat, I beat all three guys that were going to the Olympics.

“So, I thought if these are the guys going to the Olympics and I can beat them, that means I’m on that level.’’

Checkout the full interview below:

#JosephParker #TheBoxingFiles #Boxing