Boxing was greeted today by news of another unlikely fighter-trainer pairing.
Earlier it was announced that light heavyweight contender Joshua Buatsi will relocate to America to team up with Virgil Hunter. As one fighter departs another will land today to kick off a training camp which he hopes will relaunch his career.
Joseph Parker is heading to the UK to work with former WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee.
“It’s just a trial sort of camp to see what we can do together, and I wasn’t really sure about taking this fight,” said Parker in an article on TVNZ.
The fight that the New Zealander is referring to is one with British war horse Dereck Chisora. A bout which has been resurrected of late and has gathered momentum after Parker beat Junior Fa over a week ago. Parker and Chisora had been scheduled to meet in October 2019 but the former pulled out of the fight due to a bite from a spider.
“The fight’s not really locked in yet, but I wasn’t really sure because it was a quick turnaround but I believe in myself and I back myself,” Parker said.
The former WBO heavyweight champion amicably parted ways with long-time trainer Kevin Barry soon after the win over Fa to the surprise of many.
“We both left on a positive note and he’s always gonna love me as a great friend.”
Andy Lee retired from boxing in 2018 leaving with a record of (35-3-1, 24 KOs) and the big punching Irishman soon became a well-respected television analyst before moving on to become a trainer. Once trained by the legendary Emanuel Steward, Lee is now passing on his knowledge and expertise to the likes of highly touted welterweight Paddy Donovan. Lee and Donovan have hit the ground running together and appear destined for big things.
It will be fascinating to see if anything comes of Parker’s camp with Lee and if the pair have a working future together.