OPINION: I love seeing Joseph Parker fight here, and I love that he brought a heavyweight title to New Zealand. But I'm sick of seeing him beat these people who give us no clue as to where he ranks in the heavyweight division.
No one knew who Razvan Cojanu was before last night, and they won't now. He's just another name on Joseph Parker's list of victims you probably won't remember.
The circumstances weren't ideal, sure. Parker should have fought on April 1, but the Furys became the joke. Instead he fights Cojanu, and now Parker's the joke. Parker and his promoters might be wondering this morning whether it was better to call the whole thing off. Did Parker's stock rise last night? No.
His fight was screened in the UK, and the commentary was damning. But perhaps even more concerning was the commentary from the punters on social media. In summary, they described Parker as an overrated fraud, who would easily be beaten by most of the British heavyweights. Armchair critics they may be, but they're the one Joe needs to impress if he wants to be the pay-per-view star that makes him a true heavyweight in the business of boxing. It's the only way to ensure you can be part of - rather than witness to - the biggest fights, against the biggest names, on the biggest stage.
Many of them were calling for a fight with the man who seems to be next on Parker's list, Tony Bellew. He and his promoter Eddie Hearn were taking the piss out of Joe in the lead up to last night's fight.
"Who? Who? I haven't got a clue that fella he's facing is" said Bellew.
"I don't care if it's a day notice - you don't fight someone who no one knows who he is".
"From a promoter's point of view, they have got two weeks" said Hearn. "But unfortunately for the fighter, what you can't do is call out Tony Bellew, call out Deontay Wilder, and then fight Cojanu."
Imagine what they must be thinking now. At best, they're thinking Parker's an easy target. At worst, they might see him as a box-office dud.
Whatever the case, it's clear that his fight future now lies abroad. Fighting in front of 3000 fans in Manukau will make you a hero at home, but it won't make you a household name in the UK. It won't make you an awful lot of money either. You have to fight at their house. Beat Tony Bellew in front of 20,000 at the O2 Arena, or at his home at Goodison Park. It's the only way to keep silence the critics, and Bellew himself.
It's time for Parker to take his WBO title on tour - a tour that'll show us how good he really is. It's the only way we'll find out if Parker can be not just a heavyweight champion, but whether he's a chance to become the heavyweight champion.
So goodbye and good luck Joseph Parker. Based on what we saw last night, you might just need it.
Andrew Gourdie is a Newshub sports reporter.
