Samoan heavyweight, Lupesoliai Joseph Parker's "enormous potential for the world stage" is being talked up in international boxing media after his three round demolition of Kali Meehan.
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Parker took his unbeaten record to 16 and his knockout count to 14 with a brutal third round finish of veteran Meehan in Auckland on Thursday night.
The win sets him nicely for his first bout in Samoa next year.v Parker is coming to Samoa next week to promote his January fight.
He will then return to his Las Vegas base for a four-week camp for his December 5 Fight For Life bout in Hamilton on December 5. Getting a suitable opponent for the December bout continues to be tough. It's understood a lively prospect had been lined up but withdrew.
Duco Events boss, Dean Lonergan, said they were "very close" to confirming a fighter. Parker's trainer Kevin Barry, happy with the win over Meehan who, despite his age had height, reach and weight advantages to go with his vast experience, demanded the next opponent be another tall boxer. Barry said with the top fighters in the heavyweight ranks all being "big men" it was important to continue down that track.
"That's what we are planning at the moment, another very tall guy. We plan on fighting Joe against big men to start preparing him against the guys that are wearing the belts at the moment," Barry said. Lonergan concurred: "We want to give Joseph increasing challenges. Every time we have set someone tougher in front of him, Joseph steps up to the plate and it ends up to be a short plate.
"I was in England last week talking to prospective opponents up there as well… some of the bigger names in the division. But it's very difficult to get people to fight Joseph. “They know they are coming down here to get good money, but they also know they are coming down here for a real fight."
On Thursday night, as expected, the 23-year-old had too much speed and power for the 45-year-old former world contender Meehan. "The young matador gored the old bull," the Brisbane Courier Mail's report started with the fight being beamed live into Australia.
"The superior hand and foot speed of 23-year-old Parker enabled him to dominate against his vastly more experienced opponent. After a quiet start world ranked Parker unloaded … his brutality ended the contest with a quick-fire left-right combination."
Boxing Scene's managing editor Jake Donovan said Parker "closed the show with a booming right hand" after he picked up the pace and "made his presence felt". Just as Parker ended Shane Cameron's career, Donovan suggested it was time for Meehan to call it quits. "His time in the Sun has long ago come and gone. It was evident in the main event matchup, facing a boxer who - at 23 years of age - was just three years older than his son."
Jamie Pandaram of Sydney's Daily Telegraph said: "Parker has enormous potential for the world stage. While Meehan is older, this is only his 2nd defeat over 8 fights and 5 years."
News Corp's coverage continued with Grantlee Kieza, summing up: "Parker was just too vast and vital … punching Meehan into probable retirement."
Ray Wheatley's report in Boxing News said Parker's performance was "impressive". "Parker rocked Meehan in round two, then floored him in round three to end it!" Bad Left Hook writer Scott Christ's report carried video highlights of the short fight.
"Parker, 23, is making a name for himself in his home country, and has world level aspirations," wrote Christ.
"There's still a lot of work to go there, but he has bombed out some familiar names … not exactly top fighters in the sport or anything, but, you know, you've heard of them, probably."
"Joseph Parker is something big, and he is poised to make an impact on the world heavyweight scene," wrote Migguel Iturrate on Get More Sport.
Parker's latest high-profile fan, former world champion Evander Holyfield, tweeted: "Congratulations Joseph Parker! You're the "New Deal"! Hope to be at your next fight !" British heavyweight Tyson Fury, who is about to fight Wladirmir Klitschko for the world title, tweeted: "@joeboxerparker blasts out Meehan in 3 rounds looking good, bigger & better tests lay ahead,
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