As a fellow countrymen and long time follower of Parker's rise to boxing fame, I feel like I want to share some thoughts on where this man is currently as a boxer. In my honest opinion I feel Parker is blessed with a decent physique. He has good height, powerful Polynesian legs, and speed in both hands. I feel he is very coordinated , and this alone has helped make up for deficiencies elsewhere. Namely, in my opinion, lack of variety, proper schooling and keen discernment of the finer boxing nuances. But, coordination doesn't mean intelligence in my opinion. And therein is where I feel Parker is severely lacking. Boxing, or sporting intelligence and therefore a lack of understanding of how one wins a boxing match. And is it intelligence or knowledge that he's lacking? Well that, IMO, is the million dollar question. Looking at his last fight vs Chisora - it was purely coordination and instinct that got him over the line. But where were any traps? Bending at the hips to evade a Chisora strike, and delivering a counter of his own? A fake jab, so as to get Chisora to react and then hit to the body, then maybe pivot after wards and throw Chisora off? Where were these higher caliber tactics? Why was it so hard to keep chisora off? Was there no learning as you go in there form Parker? Why could Pulev dominate a younger Chisora years earlier? (Maybe the ring was smaller so that could be a small redeeming factor) Yet Parker was in all sorts. Parker can jab, double jab, one-two and throw random combination eruptions every now and then - sometimes on the inside; eruptions I consider not completely thought through anyway. And they're all done with great speed and coordination. But what else beyond these basics? At times Parker was so bereft of ideas, a plan, cunning, that he'd wait for Chisora to come to his chest, from meters away, with his hands already up in a defensive shell. Simply allowing Chisora to get inside and go to work. This is the worst tactic vs a bollocking inside fighter. And yes, he needs a shrink. It's ok to throw humbleness out the window for 30 mins during a boxing fight, and inflate oneself to godly destroyer, full of bravado and arrogance. In fact it's requisite some would say. He needs someone to bring this out. Now can he gain insight at his age? Yes, I mean IQ may not be mutable, but knowledge is. But it will take YEARS, imo. 5, 6, 7 who knows. He needs to learn that it;s not all instincts and sporting intuition. Some things need to be implemented that feel weird, wrong, new, that contradict your instincts. But once you realise and understand these new tools, and embrace them - you mind will open up and knowledge and understanding of boxing nuances will be gifted to you. But cracking that surface is never a given, and I feel Parker's surface is so ossified that not even Andy Lee and Fury's keen boxing scythes can penetrate it. Time will tell, and is running out.
He has so many great attributes but he doesn't seem to have that vicious streak. Everything looks forced, it's just not enough.
He really has natural talent, when he let shots go In short bursts It looked natural to him. It seems the aggression Is still not there and I think his punch power seems questionable?
He’s going through the motions. It feels like he’s mentally checked out of his boxing career at this stage
He looked better against Chisora than he looked against Fa. And he's only just hooked up with a new trainer. so he might look better in the next one.
He's one of those fighters that fights to the level of his opponent. Big issue is that he hasn't really got the viciousness or the power and his fights end up looking like a spar. Also, it's very difficult to look good against Chisora unless you've got genuine 1 punch KO power or are much bigger than him.
He had ability to beat Chisora convincingly he was able to push him back and Hurt him to body but he would then just back up and trow momentum out of window. Imo Usyk had a lot bigger problems with Chisora but he put 100 procent and even almost stopped Chisora. Parker had all the tools to stop chisora in 6 to 7 rounds but he just does not perform at his limit of ability. And i dont think Parker can change, usyk yould win clear ud aginst him. Was very Lucky to get that wbo title
Parker is clearly a nice guy but doesn’t have any dog in him. He looks like he just wants to be friends in the ring and enjoy a sport not a fight. Jab, jab, right hand round after round, nothing more.
You hope that Fury's team might instil some spite in him but then you look at Hughie Fury, again has all the tools but too nice and just not vicious enough. If they can't do it for Hughie then they probably won't do it for Parker.
I thought he fought well in the trenches there around the 6 to 9 rounds, at times. He's a tough fighter but I think he has a bad habit of stepping away and admiring his own work at times. He also lacks the reach to make his 'backfoot' style boxing a real asset at the top level, and I doubt he's 6'4.
All the physical attributes necessary to be a great fighter but lacks the mental aspect to truly ascend. On several occasions it looked as though he had Chisora on the verge of being stopped but eased back instead of finishing the job.
I was far from impressed with Joseph Parker a bloke I used to rate. He is going backwards as a fighter and I think he needs to consider whether boxing is really for him anymore. If he really thinks he beat a 37 years old Chisora yesterday I feel sorry for him I really do.
