11:57pm: Thank you for tuning in for tonights' live updates. Thank you for tuning in for tonight's' live updates. We really appreciate everybody who hung around for the entire card. Highlights (if you want to call them that) will be available shortly.
- Joseph Parker retains WBO title with unanimous decision victory
- Opinion: Don't let the haters get you down Joe
- Andrew Gourdie: Time to go, Joseph Parker
11:47pm: parker quotes after the bout.
"I want to thank Razvan for coming down."
"I want to thank everybody in attendance. Hopefully, it was a great fight for you all."
" I've done my best to keep fights in NZ. It's time to go overseas and get some exposure overseas."
11:42pm: To the scorecards and Joseph Parker has won the match. Parker has successfully defended his title over Razvan Cojanu. It was not the best fight but a win is a win.
Round twelve: This is usually the championship round, but we can't say that as it has sort of been one sided.
Razvan Cojanu has turned up the pace in this round. All Paker has to do is defend, but he is landing some strong punches. Cojanu continues to attack halfway through the final round, and so is Parker. Cojanu is looking more focussed.
The crowd as screaming Parkers' name as the seconds count down.
Both fighters go crazy to close out the bout and that was the best part of the fight. it will go to the judges' scorecards.
Round eleven: Razvan Cojanu throws early punches in the round as Parker is waiting for his chance to pounce. Kevin Barry told Parker not to get carried away as he is winning the fight.
Parker is throwing more uppercuts but they are not landing. Cojanu is throwing more punches and even though they are not landing, they do look tough.
Parker needs to be careful here as Cojanu is finally stepping up his game this round. It looks like Parker has taken this round off. One more to go in Manukau.
Round ten: Both fighters exchange early punches, but nothing lands. Parker continues to walk Cojanu around the ring but nothing else is happening this round.
Parker lands some strong punches to end the round. Two more rounds remaining.
Round nine: Cojanu has the grin on his face again and Parker catches him napping and lands a nice right to the head. Parker throws a uppercut and it misses. If it landed it could have been all over.
Overall another quiet round but both fighters start throwing more shots in the finals seconds of the round. Three rounds to go. Parker wants to end this he looks mad.
Round eight: Quiet start to the round as Parker moves Cojanu around the ring. Parker looks to move in on Cojanu who is not fazed and throws his hands up again.
Cojanu has a cut in his mouth, or he but his lip. Cojanu gives Parker cheek and Parker delivered it right back. Never seen that from Parker before, as he looked really annoyed.
Round seven: Parker continues to land the early shots with some good combos. Cojanu is that guy you see in PG movies who never seems to die or be intimidated.
Cojanu gives Parker a wink after the Kiwi lands some good punches. The Romanian is starting to throw a few more punches but nothing which is affecting Parker. The Parker chant starts at the end of the round as Cojanu tells Parker to keep hitting him.
Round six: The round started off quiet with Parker moving Cojanu around the ring and is getting the odd shot in. Parker gets some good shots in halfway through the round but Cojanu is still standing tall... literally.
Cojanu throws his hands in the air again and Parker is getting more frustrated. But the Kiwi gets some good punches in to end the round.
Round five: Parker continues to be all offence as Cojanu continues to defend. It is almost like a rope-a-dope technique but he is doing it in the middle of the ring. Not much has happened in this round but Parker continues to attack and Cojanu does the opposite.
Round four: Cojanu is getting into the head of Parker but the Kiwi lands some big punches to start the fourth and Cojanu hits back. Cojanu continues to pull the cheeky grin at Parker.
Now the Romanian has lost a point for putting his hand on Parkers' neck. Parker lands some more big punches and the referee warns Cojanu again about the neck. Cojanu is still picking on Parker and it is frustrating the Kiwi.
Round three: Cojanu throws more punches again and Parker keeps going in close as the Romanian ties up Parker. Cojanu continues to talk to Parker and get into his head. Both fighters hit some strong punches but Parker senses a chance as he pushes Cojanu and the crowd boos.
The referee warns Parker not to do that again. Parker ducks under some Cojanu swings and hits him with some strong punches to end the round.
Round two: Razvan Cojanu comes out throwing some quick punches but none hurt Parker. Parker lands a solid low shot and backs Cojanu up to the ropes. The crowd starts the 'Parker chant'.
Paker continues to land some strong punches. Parker continues to move Cojanu and lands some strong punches with his fast hands. Cojanu is getting more involved now following that flurry of hits.
Round one: We are underway in Manukau. Both fighters exchange early punches. Cojanu is towering over Parker. Massive height difference. Parker looks faster and slowly moving around the ring.
Cojanu is egging Parker to hit him as he puts his arms out like Muhammad Ali. Parker gets Cojanu in the corner and lands some good punches. Parker lands some solid punches to end the first round. Cojanu did not do much in that round.
10:46pm: Moments away now.
10:44pm: parker is finally in the ring with his hood on.
10:40pm: The final coutdown as Joseph Parker makes his way out to the ring to some Undertaker WWE music.
10:39pm: Razvan Cojanu makes his way out to the ring.
10:37pm: we finish it off with the national anthem of New Zealand.
10:33pm: Now the Samoan national anthem.
10:32pm: The Romanian national anthem is being sung in the stadium. It is a nice another. Never heard this one before.
10:31pm: Here is a recap of tonights' results.
George Kambosos Jr def Qamil Balla by unanimous decision
Tim Tszyu def Ivana Siau by TKO
Umar Salamov def Emil Markic by TKO
Jerome Pascua def Josh Hatherley by split decision
John Parker def Ratu Sailosi Dawai by unanimous decision
Jordan Tuigamala defNigel Elliott by KO
10:30pm: We are closing in on the main event. Not long before both fighters head out to the ring.
10:26pm: George Kambosos Jr has won the fight by unanimous decision, but both fighters look battered and well beaten. What a great fight heading into the main event.
10:22pm: The fight goes the distance and it will a tough one to call. Both fighters went crazy in the last round, but with 10 seconds left Qamil Balla goes to the ground and I think George Kambosos Jr might have done enough to win.
10:09pm: The fight gets physical again in the seventh with both fighters exchanging big blows. This has easily been the best fight of the night so far. Both desperately want the win and George Kambosos Jr's face is covered in blood with a big cut.
10:05pm: The fight stops in the sixth as Qamil Balla accidently headbutted George Kambosos Jr in the head. he fights continues.
10:01pm: George Kambosos Jr starting to make advantage in the fight, but Qamil Balla is landing some good punches. halfway through the fight and Kambosos Jr appears to have the upper hand.
9:50pm: Aggressive first round by both fighters, both Kambosos Jr and Balla fight southpaw. Both landed some strong punches. The crowd is starting to get louder. Kambosos Jr bounces back in the second round and the fight is looking very even after two rounds.
9:41pm: A somewhat vocal crowd cheers for Qamil Balla while you can hear the odd boo for George Kambosos Jr. This fight will likely go 10 rounds.
9:36pm: The next fight will start shortly between George Kambosos Jr and Qamil Balla.
9:20pm: The fight is over and Tim Tszyu picks up the win after landing a powerful punch to the head of Ivana Siau. Referee called stop to the match.
9:05pm: The next fight will get underway shortly. Ivana Siau will face Tim Tszyu.
9:00pm: Fight recap so far - Umar Salamov def Emil Markic by TKO, Jerome Pascua def Josh Hatherley by split decision, John Parker def Ratu Sailosi Dawai by unanimous decision, and Jordan Tuigamala def Nigel Elliott by KO
8:50pm: They are now showing the match between Jordan Tuigamala and Nigel Elliott. Tuigamala won the fight by TKO.
8:45pm: Sir Peter Leitch with Joseph Parker. We have two more undercards before the main event. However, the earliest the main event will start is 10:30 pm.
8:36pm: First two rounds were nothing too exciting with both fighters mainly using the jab. Markic got some good combos in, but with one-minute remaining in the second Salamov delivers some strong punches in to end the second round.
Salamov started to gain momentum in the third and his powerful punches look like they are starting to hurt Markic. 100 seconds in the fourth, Markic gets dropped. He gets back up and now Salamov is punishing him on the ropes and it is all over. It is a TKO win for Umar Salamov.
After knocking Emil Markic to the ground, Umar Salamov pounded his opponent on the ropes until the referee had to stop the fight as Markic could not take any more.
8:18pm: Emil Markic is the first man to the ring. Umar Salamov along with Kevin Barry come up minutes later. This fight could go 10 rounds.
8:14pm: The atmosphere at the stadium is dull. But the seats are starting to fill up in Manukau. Who do you think will win tonight's' fight? Tweet us your predictions @Newshubsport
8:06pm: The next fight is between Umar Salamov and Emil Markic. They will be fighting for the WBO Light Heavyweight International Title. Salamov is trained by Kevin Barry
8:02pm: Jerome Pascua got a call at 9 pm last night asking for this fight as Mose Aiumatagi Jnr had to pull out and he is happy he took that phone call. That is Pascua's second win this year over Hatherley.
8:00pm: Jerome Pascua wins the fight by split decision over Joshua Hatherley. Another win to the blue corner.
7:57pm: Pascua who was a late call up dominates the first round over Hatherley. The second round was very similar with Pascua dominating. The third round was more even, but Pascua probably thinks he is going to win and is just taking it easy. The fourth and final round was even once again, but Hatherly may have won that round.
7:41pm: The bout between Josh Hatherley and Jerome Pascua is underway.
7:37pm: New Zealand MMA fighter Dan Hooker is in attendance. He is backing Joseph Parker.
7:36pm: The next fight is between Jerome Pascua and Josh Hatherley
7:33pm: John Parker wins the fight by unanimous decision
7:30pm: The first undercard is done. John Parker started the fight with a flurry of strong punches, but the remainder of the round was fairly even. Dawai got some good punches in at the end. The second and third rounds were even between the two fighters. Fourth and final round both fighters come out swinging with Parker landing more punches, With a minute to go, Parker starts bleeding and that fires up Parker.
We are now waiting for the judges' call.
7:10pm: The first undercard is about to start between the undefeated John Parker and Ratu Dawai.
7:08pm: Kevin barry has told Sky Sports that Parker is ready for Anthony Joshua.
7:05pm: In the pre-broadcast fight, Jordan Tuigamala (son of former All Black Inga) defeated Nigel Elliott in the third round.
7:00pm: Thank you for tuning into tonight's WBO title fight between Joseph Parker and Razvan Cojanu at the Vodafone Events centre in Manukau. There are five undercards before the main event.
Hello and welcome to live updates of the WBO World Heavyweight Title fight between holder Joseph Parker and Romanian Razvan Cojanu at the Vodafone Events centre in Manukau.
This is the first time Parker will be defending his WBO belt.
Commentary will start from around 7:00pm (NZT). We will be keeping you up to date with all the under card fights and then round by round updates of the main event.
The main event will start sometime after 10.30pm.
Fight Card
Joseph Parker (NZ) v Razvan Cojanu (ROM)
Heavyweight | 12 x 3 minute rounds | WBO World Heavyweight Title
George Kambosos Jr (SYD, AUS) v Qamil Balla (MEL, AUS)
Lightweight | 10 x 3 minute rounds
Ivana Siau (AKL,NZ) v Tim Tszyu (SYD,AUS)
Catchweight (71kg) | 4 x 3 minute rounds
Umar Salamov (RUS) v Emil Markic (CROATIA)
Light Heavyweight | 10 x 3 minute rounds | WBO Light Heavyweight International Title
Jerome Pascua (AKL,NZ) v Josh Hatherley (CHC,NZ)
Catchweight (74.5kg) | 6 x 3 minute rounds
John Parker (AKL,NZ) v Ratu Sailosi Dawai (CHC,NZ)
Cruiserweight | 4 x 3 minute rounds
PRE BROADCAST BOUT: Jordan Tuigamala (AKL,NZ) v Nigel Elliott (HAM,NZ)
Catchweight (86kg) | 4 x 3 minute rounds
Betting odds
Head to head: Parker $1.02 Cojanu $12.00 Draw $26.00
Method of victory KO/TKO: Parker $1.15 Cojanu $15.00
Method of victory Decision: Parker $5.50 Cpmjanu $21.00
Prefight banter: Kiwi heavyweight boxing champion Joseph Parker battling inoperable injuries
Joseph Parker's approaching his boxing prime but he's having to manage ongoing shoulder and elbow injuries to unify the heavyweight belts.
At just 25, the WBO Champion revealed to Newshub that he's experiencing wear and tear from his 22 career-fights.
"Both shoulders and both elbows. It's pretty sore but I guess you just have to work through the pain," Parker said.
Parker is unbeaten and hasn't missed a training camp or a bout because of the injuries, which don't require surgery.
"It's something we can work out as best we can. We've seen physiotherapists and neuro-muscular specialists, been getting x-rays and MRIs on it. It's just wear and tear. The advice given is you just need a proper break after each fight."
He says the break he took after beating Andy Ruiz for the WBO Heavyweight title reaped rewards.
"After the break it was good. It needed that break because it was overused. Now that we're back in camp we're feeling it here and there but after the fight we'll get another break. I can rest it and spend time with family. That'll be good for me."
"There's so many things you have to overcome. But when you get your mind strong you can overcome all of them. I think I've got my mind strong enough to handle anything that comes my way, any situation."
Despite making big inroads already during his career, Parker's long indicated he doesn't want to fight far past thirty years old.
He fights former sparring partner Romanian Razvan Cojanu on Saturday in Auckland.
Newshub.
