Joseph Parker laid the foundation for success last year.
The Kiwi heavyweight boxer racked up five wins from as many bouts in 2014 as he advanced his professional record to 12-0, while fighting on big stages and catching the attention of some of the sport's most influential people.
The 22-year-old from South Auckland appeared on the undercard of world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko's title fight in Germany in April and later produced a punch that was a contender for "knockout of the year" when he dropped Irineu Beato Costa jnr with a thunderous right hand at the Fight for Life in December. Parker was also named as one of boxing's 20 rising stars for 2014 by respected ESPN scribe Dan Rafael.
But that's in the past and Parker is likely to fight five times again this year as he looks to build his career. He is pegged at No10 within the WBA and No12 in the WBO courtesy of the regional titles he holds.
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The first bout will be a 10-round affair against American Jason Pettaway in Manukau on March 5 in what shapes as a manageable trip to the ring but Parker said the fast-moving, counter-punching 34-year-old would provide another useful stepping stone on his path to success.
"It's just about learning and gaining experience for further fights and the ultimate goal that we are looking at, which is to be the world champion one day," Parker said.
One of the notable aspects of Parker's later performances in 2014 was his patience and ability to follow the plans laid down for him by veteran trainer Kevin Barry.
"I think with all the fights we've had and all the experience I've been able to gain in the ring it's helped with my ringcraft and it's helped relax me as a fighter," he said.
Parker's busy 2015 will also include a stop in Austria in April where he will spar with Klitschko.
"It will be a great opportunity but I can't really look past this dude," Parker said of the bout with Pettaway. "If I can't beat this dude then sparring against the champ, he'll probably annihilate me."
Duco's David Higgins, who promotes Parker, said that while their prized asset fought on a Klitschko undercard last year, that was unlikely to be repeated when the Ukrainian giant makes a scheduled title defence, tipped to be against American Bryant Jennings, in New York on April 25.
"The purpose of sparring Klitschko is to get a gauge of where Joe's at in terms of the world's best," Higgins said.
- NZME.
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