At home with Joseph Parker's mum ahead of fight

(Newshub.)
(Newshub.)

In a matter of hours Joseph Parker will realise his dream as he fights for the WBO heavyweight world championship.

Nervously cheering him on every step of the way through his career has been his parents.

"Nothing beats family time; family time is the best for me," says Parker.

Sala and Dempsey Parker's Mangere house is a sanctuary for Joseph Parker, one marked with personal touches from the Kiwi heavyweight.

"He tells everyone he is mummy's boy. He is very helpful and very supportive and he doesn't want to hurt anyone," Sala says.

That is until he steps in the ring when he unleashes his "inner beast". And that is the time Sala gets the most nervous.

"I always drown my nerves and my worries and my butterflies with a smile, and I just want to look normal. But deep inside it's a lot going on," she says.

Leading up to each of his fights, Sala starts to experience what she calls a "silent depression". It is when she either starts eating too much or not at all that she can tell things are starting to get too much for her.

"I don't want Jo to know, or John. I just keep on smiling. I don't want them to worry about me."

But if the siblings do sense things are wrong, Joseph is always quick to turn his mum's worries around.

"If [Joseph] knew I was upset he always makes sure I am happy again before I go to bed or before he leaves the house or gets off the phone," Sala says.

Before Joseph leaves the locker room on Saturday night in search of his latest winning belt, Sala will have a very simple message for her son.

"He will come to me and I always say, 'Son, I love you. God bless and please look after yourself.'"

Sala will be left watching nervously as Joseph makes his walk to history.

When he has his time back home, Jo loves nothing more than a home-cooked meal.

"Mum's cooking's not bad, but I enjoy Dad's cooking better. Dad makes the best raw fish. Everything he makes is healthy," Parker says.

Joseph turned down the bowl of chips Sala offered him. Everything counts when your dreams are on the line.

Sala did what her son is waiting until tonight to do - touching the new championship belt - earlier in the week.

"It was just another belt like what we've got at home, because we've got a WBO and it just looks the same," she says. "Maybe after the fight, if Jo wins, it will become exclusive to me."

Newshub.