Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker can’t wait to prove his supremacy when he rematches perennial contender Dereck Chisora at the AO Arena in Manchester on December 18.
In May, Parker recovered from a first-round knockdown to clinch a split decision over Chisora at the same venue with the frustrated Londoner immediately petitioning for a return.
The New Zealander mulled his options – including a clash with the unbeaten Joe Joyce – before opting for a repeat dose against Chisora. He plans to link up with trainer Andy Lee in Las Vegas as the Irishman helps WBC champion Tyson Fury prepare for his trilogy bout with Deontay Wilder on October 9. Parker will then embark on his own training camp with the highly respected Lee.
“I feel really good about this,” Parker told Stuff in New Zealand. “I have watched the first fight again and I feel like I got a clear win. But it was close and a lot of people saw it differently, so let’s sort it out.
“I think it’s going to be more beneficial to me because I know what he is going to bring, I don’t see him changing much. He put the most pressure on me that I’ve had in a fight, and I have to look at ways to counter that with technique and staying calm under that pressure.
“This guy talks a whole lot of crap and he is very tough. I did have him in that last fight, I just didn’t finish him. I won’t make that mistake again.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back into camp. I’m in good condition, so I won’t have to smash my body getting fit, it will be about working hard on our processes.”
Main image: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.