Parker's new Las Vegas gym

Joseph Parker and his trainer Kevin Barry are putting the finishing touches to a new personal gym in Las Vegas that will be home base for the Kiwi heavyweight boxer's training.

Reports of Parker moving to Britain are well wide of the mark after the 25-year-old spoke to local media in London in the buildup to his WBO world heavyweight defence against Hughie Fury.

Parker wanted to clarify the situation and says his aim is to fight more in Britain, but he will not be doing any of his base training there.

"We have a great set-up in Las Vegas. I love being in Vegas, all our camps will be in Vegas, we are just going to spend more time in the UK in terms of fighting," Parker said, quickly adding, "But New Zealand will still be home for me."

The boxing ring was being installed into the state-of-the art gym last week and will be ready for Parker when he returns.

The gym is in suburban Las Vegas, just down the road from Barry's house where Parker lives with his trainers family.

"It's a lot closer to home which will make things a lot easier," Parker said.

Barry felt they could save as much as two hours a day in travel time in their training camp routines compared to the facilities they have been using to date.

"It's set up the way we want it. It will be our own space. Everything will be out of there from now on. I'm really excited about it," Parker said.

Barry's other fighters Izu Ugonoh and Umar Salamov will also be based at the gym.

Parker has used a variety of gyms in Las Vegas since teaming up with Barry in 2013.

Parker felt the personalised facility was appropriate, a point hammered home to him as he used the small but classy London gym of British heavyweight David Haye.

Parker has enjoyed his fortnight in Britain and the feel of the place as a fight scene. He found the local boxing community to be respectful and welcoming and he was looking forward to being more involved there for fights if he can push on with his career.

 

Photo by: STUFF (Caption: Joseph Parker is looking forward to using his own personalised gym at his American base