Lupesoliai Joseph Parker’s opponent for his fight in Samoa on 23 January 2016 has been confirmed. He is rugged American southpaw, Jason Bergman.
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The confirmation came from Duco Events this morning as part of the ‘Joseph Parker’s Road to the Heavyweight Boxing Title’ journey.
Today, that path became a lot clearer over the next couple of months with Duco Events taking the unprecedented step of naming his next two opponents.
Before his trip to Samoa though, Lupesoliai, the 23-year-old boxing sensation will fight 6’8” American, Daniel “The Mountain” Martz at the Burger King Fight for Life in Hamilton on 5 December.
Martz will be the tallest opponent Lupesoliai has ever faced while the Bergman fight will be his first professional bout against a left-hander.
Both fights promise to be fascinating acid tests for the kiwi-born Samoan with Martz having a proven reputation as ‘a mauler and a brawler.’ In the case of Bergman, Lupesoliai has not fought a southpaw since his amateur days and freely admits he “didn’t have a clue.”
“With Joseph having captured the public’s imagination, we realise there is now tremendous interest and scrutiny in how we pick opponents,” said Duco Director, David Higgins.
“So the message the fans can take from today’s announcement is that we are serious about readying him for a world title shot.”
“Even though Joseph is 6’4” he is shorter than the biggest names in the heavyweight division like Wladimir Klitschko (6’6”); Deontay Wilder (6’7”) and Tyson Fury (6’9”).
Higgins says the plan has never been to just get a world title shot.
“We want Joseph to capture the world title and that means we must get him accustomed to fighting opponents much bigger than himself,” he said.
Trainer Kevin Barry says a similar rational is behind the selection of Bergman, Parker’s ‘Rumble in Paradise’ opponent in Samoa.
“There are a number of quality southpaws in the heavyweight division, the most obvious being 6’1” WBA champion, Rusian Chagaev,” said Barry.
“Joe is currently ranked 13th by the WBA and rising fast so Chagaev is most definitely in our sights. When that opportunity presents itself we must be ready.”
Bergman, 31, is undoubtedly a tough opponent with 16 wins from his last 18 bouts over the last five years. The immediate focus though, is Martz with 11 of his 14 wins coming by way of knockout. At just 24 years old, Martz is also the youngest opponent Parker will have ever faced. Parker will be the seventh undefeated opponent the giant American has fought in a three year, 17-fight professional career.
To put that in perspective, pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather only fought three undefeated opponents in a glittering 18-year, 49-fight career.
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