THE BIG TIME
their March 2024 fight in Riyadh, he weighed 247½ pounds while Zhang weighed 291½ pounds. Parker won the fight by a majority decision but was knocked down in the third and eighth rounds before recovering to use his speed and mobility to outbox his Chinese opponent. A triumvirate of Parker, Lee (also Tyson Fury’s former assistant trainer) and George Lockhart, an American performance nutritionist, chef and strength and conditioning coach, sat around a table and hatched a plan last year: They would build Parker into a much bigger athlete. “The reason was to maximize his size and power without sacrificing Joe’s mobility and speed,” Lee has told me. “George is a brilliant expert on the human body and getting an athlete to the optimum weight.”
for a world title, if I’m honest … and Joe has never looked better, has he?” Lee shares the same view. Not based on realpolitik, but on meritocracy. “We’ve had nine fights working together, and we are 8-1 since May 2021, the first Derek Chisora fight,” Lee explained. “He’s growing by the fight and every day in training in the camps. I wouldn’t call it maturing, even. His belief, his image of himself, his inner dialogue reflects that he knows he is one of the best heavyweights in the world. That’s how he thinks and conducts himself. He truly knows it and believes it.” This is very different from when they
bounce. Deontay Wilder, Zhang, now Bakole: “Three KOs, three going the distance against some of the very best heavyweights in the world. His confidence has been gained and garnered after his performances in the ring, and the proof is in the pudding.” Lee goes deeper here on Parker’s standing, in his view: “Joseph Parker is no longer an experiment. He’s routinely walking around at 121kg (267 pounds) ... that’s his body now. He’s not the tallest heavyweight, so we needed to maximize his physique to get the edge where we can. It’s a game of fine margins. You saw that punch where he knocked Martin Bakole out. He didn’t “His confidence has been gained and
world champion and an all-time great.” A powerful mindset from Parker and his esteemed entourage. They are few, but they are formidable. But the title still eludes them. “We were two days away from fighting for it, but at The Last Crescendo we felt in the camp it was like Joe beat two opponents in one fight,” said Lee. “He beat Bakole and Dubois … that is how it feels to us. “You would not believe the reaction he got from people after he took the Bakole fight. People went crazy for him. [But] he’s a humble guy. Joe is such a humble, genuine, caring person. He gives his time for people, does things for people financially around him.
first met. “I can’t remember that time in detail, because we were both different,” said Lee. “We have grown together as a coach and a fighter. I have developed as he has. My convictions have grown; I’ve always believed in what I wanted, but now I know I am making the right decisions, the big decisions on who, where, when you are fighting … there’s a time when you ask if it’s right. “How can I say it … I know boxing. I’ve lived and breathed it my whole life. Things I’ve said about boxers and opponents have eventually come true. I’ve learned to back
“He’s such a good person, and that came across in the YouTube series he did – 14 episodes in camp in Ireland, and in the Saudi fight weeks. He has so much support; he’s there in terms of recognition, and he’s even ahead of Dubois in terms of recognition. Again, in my view. OK, Dubois had the great win against Joshua and that definitely got people’s attention, but for household names: Tyson No. 1, Joshua No. 2, maybe Usyk and Joe level in third. “I don’t need to keep Joe match-ready. Joe never goes out of shape now. He always ticks over, and he has our absolute
garnered after his performances in the ring, and the proof is in the pudding.”
best I’ve ever felt as a fighter. I feel I’ve matured as a fighter. I feel I understand what I’m doing. And with every training session, every meal, everything we do, we do it with purpose, and I do feel the best I’ve ever felt in my career. Because of all those things and also because I’m enjoying my work every single day. I’m ready for anything.” It certainly seemed that way against Bakole. “The relationship with my team is special – I have a great relationship with Andy, George, [manager] Spencer Brown and David Higgins and, for that matter, everyone else, including my brother, cousin, family and friends. They all work hard to get me into the best shape of my life for every fight. “And Frank Warren as well ... we have a great contract with Frank, and we know he will get us the best fights out there. Onwards and upwards in what we do.” Parker earned a reported $3.5 million
Ring IQ got Parker over the line against the gigantic Zhang.
Lockhart drew up the program, putting Parker on 10,000 calories a day for a six-week period, then set a powerful workout process of weightlifting, allied with endurance training. His weight against Bakole: 267 pounds. “We worked on strengthening and building from the base upwards: his calves, quads, glutes, back and shoulders, then arms. It involved a huge amount of strength work, but never compromising his athletic needs as a boxer. We wanted him to be heavier and stronger – but still as fast. And as he built, his power increased. It went in phases. “Strength first, with heavy weights, squats, leg presses and dumbbells. We were building muscle the entire time, and so it increased his weight.” Parker told The Ring: “I feel the
for his fight with Bakole. Brown told me that he is “happy for Joe to keep his powder dry” for a while, if he wishes. For his part, Parker has declared he is “ready for anyone in the division.” Also Fury’s manager and head of Goldstar Promotions, Brown has become a very influential figure, mostly behind the scenes. He told me that it was “Tyson Fury who put us all together with Joe [Parker]. I will be asking Turki [Alalshikh] to get Joe to where he should be. But fair play to Turki. He kept that fight on, and he got Bakole there. Andy Lee was in agreement on taking the fight. “The decision on what Joe does next will be collective, but Andy needs to be happy with it. But I want him to fight
myself, even though you still agonize over decisions … but those decisions seem to be right.” This is maturity – and Lee recognizing it. Moreover, he is recognizing it through the synergy he has enjoyed with Parker. Then Lee, abruptly, checks himself. “But back to Joe. It was a building job. When I look back, we were unfortunate to fight Joe Joyce when we did, Joseph was ill – irrelevant now. It was a bad style matchup at the time. It was delayed three or four times. We were on a progression … but we started from scratch again after that fight.” Since then, six victories on the
knock Bakole out because Bakole got off a flight and was exhausted after six or seven rounds. Bakole was fresh coming into the fight and was looking very good in that opening round. He was making a fight of it in the second round, and Joe realized, ‘I need to do something here.’ And he unleashed that punch – and it was a game-changer. “We don’t want Joe going to decisions all the time. It’s why we built him bigger. This is a different Joseph Parker, completely different as a fighter, technically and physically. But also as a man a lot more mature, a lot more determined. He knows how close he is to becoming a two-time heavyweight
belief. And in my view, it should be a world title shot next. That’s what I want for Joe. And it’s what he deserves.” Strong words from Lee. But the final word goes to the fighter himself. Parker is at home, his children busy in the background, as he tells me before the phone call closes: “I’m patient, but ready. I’m ready for the call ... anytime, any place, anywhere. My goal is to become champion again, and believe me, I’m ready.” Gareth A Davies is the boxing correspondent for Talksport and the Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspaper in London.
64 RINGMAGAZINE.COM
RINGMAGAZINE.COM 65
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker