Paint Dry Parker exposed - overrated boxer (no more?)

if Parker is just a dull gatekeeper (he might be)
should we really be excited about Joyce?

 

I'm not sure overrated is the right term, he was the underdog vs Joyce last night and was the underdog against Joshua too, it's not like people have been saying he was the best.

To me he's definitely a solid contender level fighter, he beat gate keepers in Takam and Chisora, that to me proves you are contender level if you can pass the gate keeper test.

Parker has just never lived up to his potential. The strategy last night was horrible and the blame must be laid at Andy Lee for that. What were they thinking trying to KO the Juggernaut? Coming in so heavy thinking they could stop him and not have to worry about the later rounds where the extra weight would be suicide against a fighter with Joyce's stamina and workrate.

 

Isn’t he AJ’s best win?

 

From what I saw, they wanted a big strong Parker to match Joyce, but that works if you want to get in tight and grapple and fight in the pocket. Parker was moving backwards all night and eating Joyce's shots with his chin in the air. (Well ok chin in the air is a little harsh, but he couldve been a little jerkier with his defensive movements) When he imo was furing back he shouldve been using thatbextra bulk to smother joyce and lean on him, effectively making it a dirty fight. He was lumbering around and creating an easy target. I think speed cardio and evasiveness beat a big slow guy like Joyce and Parker had none of it. Also imo hes probably struggling to get lighter and 'bouncier'. He wad plodding and teeing off last night. But just let himself be engulfed. It was not nice to watch. I question whether hes more interested in hanging out with fury than boxing.

I have an inkling Fury's been giving him tips to emulate him, which is fair enough, but it didnt really work out for him. Instead he fought the fight of his life, in the wrong way, if that makes sense. Hence why the performance looked 'good'.

Fury wont let joyce have his way, he'll smother, push him, pivot, jab the living daylights outta him. I think jab jab smother hold would be the keys to victory. Not tee off then walk away slowly like parker

 

You might be right about Takam. As for Chisora I still think he's gate keeper level, at least in this current division.

Parker isn't a top contender, which is why I said he was solid contender level, at worst he's a fringe contender now.

Yes he would need to beat Fury or Usyk but everyone not name Fury or Usyk would be a clear underdog against them, does that mean there are no contenders? The term contender doesn't mean they beat the champion it means they simply can contend with them and I think Parker has proven he at the level where if he was named as an opponent for a title shot people wouldn't say he didn't deserve it, at least before last night.

 

I think it is time to stop saying " Parker never lived up to his potential "
he been given enough chances
really it is blaming Parker for the mistakes of us who overestimate him.
I gave him extra chance with new trainer. but his level is his level

I do think he is good boxer and can expose a lot of hyped prospect still . so yes this is 'gatekeeper ' definition.

he was a step up for Joyce. & Joyce pass the test.

 

Well clearly that's where we differ in terms of definitions. Yes the term solid contender isn't perhaps common place but I think it's pretty self explanatory without me needing to expand of that term to make my point.

Whether you like the term fringe contender or not, it's a commonly used term in the sport as is top contender. So if we just stick to those 2 terms then I'd say Parker is a fringe contender.

How can he not be a contender, former world champion, beating a guy that would go onto be a unified champion for the belt and also last night fought Joyce for the interim title which would have seen him contend for the full world title had he of won. Nobody before Joyce/Parker was announced said this was a horrible fight, why? Because Parker is a contender, one not likely to win the title again unless it does become vacant that is true but nevertheless he's of a status where it was deemed appropriate he be in a position to fight for an interim title and a future title shot.

If he isn't a contender then what is he? A gate keeper? Do gate keepers win world titles? Do gate keepers beat future unified world champions? I get after this loss people want to stick the knife but to say he isn't even a fringe contender is simply too far he just lost to arguably a top 3 heavyweight, at worst top 5, it's not like he lost to someone like Kownacki or Trevor Bryan.

 

Not overrated imo. The problem of Parker and of other HWs is that, in front of a fighter like Joyce who eats bombs without the batting of an eye and continues to pressure tirelessly, all gas tanks get empty quickly than facing other opponents instead.

In few words its Joyce who makes an opponent look overrated.

 

Parker was never that badly overrated, except for in some circles when he was knocking out journeymen on the way up. The thing is that he simply failed to improve, to move on from top 10 contender to seriously challenge the best. Part of that lies with staying so long with Barry when it was clear that he wasn't getting better anymore.

But most of his fans were very aware of his limitations once he started fighting actual contenders. You could argue that his potential was overrated, but his actual level wasn't really overrated: almost no-one thought he was better than a top 5-10 contender. He was a clear underdog against Joyce and even as a fan I suspected that he would get beaten up.

Parker did alright last night, he showed some courage and determination and came to fight and try to win. It was far from a boring fight even though a bit one-sided. I prefer to see him try and fight a losing war rather than run away to a wide UD loss.

He won a title, there was of course a lot of luck involved there as he was never the best in the division. But everyone who isn't a casual knows that.