Joseph Parker

Joseph Parker was born in South Auckland, New Zealand to parents Sala and Dempsey (serendipitously named after former World heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey) in January 1992.

At ten years old, blessed with natural size and strength, Joseph entered the Papatoetoe Boxing Club and, under the tutelage of head trainer Grant Arkell, began honing the skills that have turned him in to the fighter he is today.

Joseph experienced success over his 66-fight amateur career, with highlights including representing New Zealand at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, becoming a two-time New Zealand amateur champion, a New Zealand Golden Gloves champion, winning a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Boxing Championships and a bronze medal at the 2010 AIBA Youth World Championships.

In 2012, Joseph made his professional debut, defeating Dean Garmonsway by technical knockout in the second round. Over the next four years, Parker remained undefeated in 21 fights, defeating notable challengers such as Frans Botha, Marcelo Luiz Nascimento Sherman Williams and Carlos Takam.

In December 2016, Joseph became New Zealand’s first ever World Heavyweight Champion, defeating Andy Ruiz Junior at Auckland’s Vector Arena to claim the vacant WBO World Heavyweight Championship.

A key figure in the revival of the heavyweight division, Joseph is not content with simply becoming the World Heavyweight Champion and has stated his desire to unify the four major championship belts. At this rate, it’s hard to see who’ll stand in his way.

Statistics


Born: South Auckland, New Zealand

Fighting out of: Las Vegas, Nevada

Age: 28

Division: Heavyweight

Stance: Orthodox

Height: 6’4” / 193cm

Reach: 78” / 198cm

Trainer: Kevin Barry

Promoter: Matchroom Boxing

Record: Won 27 (Wins by KO 21), Lost 2, Drawn 0

Titles: Former WBO World Heavyweight Champion


”Shoot, he's the real deal. I like to see people who know how to fight and he knows how to fight. After all the people I've seen, I've seen all the [recent] fights, and I think he looks better to me than anybody I've seen.”
- Evander Holyfield, Former Heavyweight World Champion