Where does Joseph Parker rank among HWs from Oceania all time?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by HistoryZero26, Oct 15, 2025 at 10:22 PM.


  1. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,895
    4,271
    Jan 6, 2024
    No doubt Parker is the best fighter from Oceania(Australia/New Zealand) in decades unless your a real Tua fan. But how does Parker compare to the fighters from the golden age of Australian boxing in the early 20th century? H2H and "legacy".

    Heres IMO the 12 best from that time.
    Peter Jackson
    Goddard
    Slavin
    Dooley
    Felix
    Creedon
    Lang
    Squires
    Dave Smith
    Arthur Cripps
    Colin Bell
    Tom Heeney

    Another 10 include Jim Hall, O Donnell, Doherty, Jim Ryan, Bill McCall, Tut Ryan, Jim Griffin, Lester, Joe Costa and Sid Russell.
     
    dmt likes this.
  2. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Mauling Mormon’s Full Member

    19,552
    21,528
    Sep 22, 2021
    I, I don’t know… but he’s basically a big modern Jimmy Young, bit cagey, can pull off the odd stinker of a bout Joe should impose himself more but doesn’t... also similar to Young he’s faced a lot of iron and is a credible contender that may pull off the upset against an aging guy being heralded as one of the greats. I’d like to see Tai come up and fight him in his debut at HW if Usyk deals with him for a HW NZ vs AUS bout.
     
  3. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

    11,558
    17,562
    Jul 2, 2006
    Impossible to compare him to Jackson due to no footage. My guess is Jackson was more naturally gifted while Parker is more of a product of hard work and consistency
     
    mcvey likes this.
  4. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    97,785
    29,186
    Jun 2, 2006
    Premature to rate him whilst he is still active.
    You confined this to heavyweights?
    Otherwise possibilities would include;
    Darcy,Griffo,Tszyu,Fenech,Rose,Famechon,Sands.
     
  5. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,098
    4,929
    Jun 24, 2017
    What about aussie joe Bugner? He was on a good run when he beat Tillis, Bey an page before losing to bruno.
     
  6. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

    11,558
    17,562
    Jul 2, 2006
    I would clssify Bugner as British. He was ethnically Hungrian but born and bred in England. He was a product of the English/British system. Any success he has as Aussie Joe, to me, is due to his British system.
     
    HistoryZero26 likes this.
  7. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,895
    4,271
    Jan 6, 2024
    I confined it to the "golden age" except Heeney.
     
    mcvey likes this.
  8. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,895
    4,271
    Jan 6, 2024
    I was trying to confine it to Australian golden age fighters. I added Heeney cause he was the last HW from the region to break through at the world level for decades hes sort of the book mark.

    I agree with dmt. Bugner advanced through the UK system and was an Commonwealth/EBU double winner. Bugner started fighting at the regional level in Oceania at 45 and had 5 fights. Those three and Smith all went to Australia to fight Bugner as one offs.
     
  9. Smokin Bert

    Smokin Bert Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,151
    7,002
    Sep 8, 2013
    I think Parker has finally proven once and for all that he is superior to James Thunder.
    But, I still have him behind Tua.
     
    Seamus likes this.
  10. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    97,785
    29,186
    Jun 2, 2006
    Bugner was born in Szoreg Hungary.
     
    jarama and dmt like this.
  11. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    62,005
    46,864
    Feb 11, 2005
    Justin Fortune deserves a shout.
     
  12. jarama

    jarama Active Member Full Member

    956
    339
    May 13, 2014
    Tua and Thunder over parker for me
     
  13. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

    25,522
    9,522
    Jul 15, 2008
    I like Joe but think beating Big Bang and Wilder do not make him a great fighter ... he's big, tough, durable and cute with decent power and a good chin .. I'd really like to see him agains Moses .. I know Moses is very young but he's fast as hell and can hit and that wouodnbe a terrific fight as I view Joe as more of a high end gate keeper than a great champ ...