Joseph Parker

Pressure mounts on Joseph Parker after Wilder, Fury blockbuster

With the WBC belt on the line, Brit Tyson Fury and American Deontay Wilder added another memorable contest to the division's golden run, which ended in a controversial draw. Both Barry and Parker were in attendance at Los Angeles' Staples Centre to witness the drama first-hand.

Barry stressed that it's now over to Parker to prove he belongs in the upper echelon of the division with an emphatic win over Alexander Flores in Christchurch later this month.

Former Warriors legend Manu Vatuvei to fight on Joseph Parker undercard

According to Stuff, the 32-year-old will take on Dave 'The Brown Buttabean' Letele on the undercard of Joseph Parker's bout with Alexander Flores at Horncastle Arena in Christchurch next month.

Event promoter Duco has called a press conference for Tuesday to announce the fight.

Vatuvei has recently returned from the UK, after an injury-plagued stint with Super League club Salford Red Devils.

An Achilles issue picked up in pre-season prevented him making a single appearance for the side and he was granted an early release from his contract in July.

David Higgins challenging Joseph Parker to knockout Alexander Flores

Parker will fight Flores at Christchurch's Horncastle Arena on December 15 in what will be his first fight in New Zealand since May 2017.

The 26-year-old South Aucklander has endured a challenging year, losing his WBO title to Anthony Joshua in April in Cardiff, and then losing in his next bout to fellow British heavyweight Dillian Whyte in July in London.

The back-to-back defeats have seen Parker slip down the rankings, and he will need to claim some emphatic victories by knockout if he wants to contend for a heavyweight belt once more.

Parker opponent revealed as he tries to resurrect career

The 28-year-old Flores has won 15 of his 17 fights through knockout with his only defeat coming at the hands of former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin in a North American Boxing Association title fight in 2014.

Martin's victory set up a successful tilt at the IBF crown vacated by Tyson Fury, and a subsequent unification date with Anthony Joshua.

Parker will fight Flores at Horncastle Arena on December 15th having lost his past two fights.

Parker: Doubters fuelling my motivation

After winning his first 24 professional bouts and claiming the WBO world title in the process, Parker has lost his last two contests - leaving some doubting whether he belongs with the elite heavyweights.

But the 26-year-old insisted he's using those criticisms to drive him on what he hopes will be a path back to the belt.

"I hear the doubters all the time, for us we use it as something to give us drive, Parker said on Thursday after confirming his return to the ring in Christchurch on December 15.

Joseph Parker guest speaker at NZ First conference

Mr Parker said he had a "close relationship" with NZ First leader Winston Peters.

"He's been to a lot of the fights and he's always ringside and he's shown his support for me. The invitation was there so we wanted to show our support."

Mr Parker, who is the nephew of senior National MP Judith Collins, said he backed Mr Peters over National Party leader Simon Bridges in a battle.

Likewise he backed "Aunty Judith" to win in any fight against her colleague Amy Adams.

Why Joseph Parker won't fight UFC star Mark Hunt

Parker's former promoter Dean Lonergan told RadioLIVE last week that fighting Hunt would be the perfect comeback fight for the former WBO heavyweight champion - who has lost his previous two bouts.

The 26-year-old lost to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte respectively

Hunt - who has one fight remaining on his UFC contract - has lost three of his last four fights inside the Octagon, but more importantly has never fought a professional boxing fight in a 19-year combat sports career.

Anthony Joshua's promoter guarantees Joseph Parker 'will come back in a big fight'

Hearn says the 26-year-old former WBO boxing champion is a calibre fighter, who can go up against the best in the heavyweight division.

"There is a lot of depth now in the heavyweight division," said Hearn.

"Even the guys that are losing are available for big fights, not with AJ.

"But (Joseph) Parker will come back in a big fight, (Alexander) Povetkin will come back in a big fight."

Joshua defeated Russian boxer Povetkin via a seventh round TKO yesterday at Wembley Stadium, to retain his WBA, IBF and WBO titles.

Joseph Parker's high school event to now be 'all inclusive'

Controversy arose after the event was initially billed as being a closed motivational session for Māori and Pasifika boys and at least one person complained.

Asked about the session at a press conference this morning, Parker said that he would prefer the event to be "all-inclusive".

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Parker's manager David Higgins said the difference appeared to be settled.

"I can confirm that I have had a fruitful conversation with Whanganui High School principal Martin McAllen this afternoon.

Parker reconsiders ‘racist’ school appearance

The North island boys school has planned a motivational session male for Māori and Pasifika students and their dads only at which Parker was invited to speak. That's lead to outrage among parents and complaints of racism and sexism.

Parker's promoter, David Higgins, told The AM Show host Duncan Garner that they wouldn't be attending unless the attendance restrictions were lifted.

"Under the current plan, it's not something that we or Joseph Parker would endorse," said Higgins.