Kiwi Joseph Parker may have quick hands, but that doesn't faze British heavyweight boxer Dillian Whyte ahead of their blockbuster fight in London on July 29.
Whyte, who holds an impressive 24-win, one-loss career record, is on the verge of a heavyweight title fight against either Deontay Wilder or Anthony Joshua.
The 30-year-old is highly ranked in all four of boxing's major organisations and is risking his status against Parker, with the loser likely to slip to the heavyweight doldrums.
Parker is regarded as one of the quicker heavyweights in the world, with some pundits predicting speed to be the key when the pair clash inside the squared circle.
- Next opponent questions Joseph Parker's fighting spirit
- Joseph Parker 'hungry' for world title shot
- Trainer Don Charles tips first stoppage loss for Kiwi
But Whyte couldn't care less about what the experts say - he is just focused on what he can do, not what Parker brings to the table.
"I am not concerned about speed - Parker's speed," Whyte told Newshub. "I am very quick as well, just ask Lucas Browne.
"I am not bothered about if people think I will struggle with his speed. I will go in there and make sure I do what I need to do.
“I don't care about what Joseph Parker is doing. Dillian Whyte will do what he needs to do to be where he wants to be inside that ring."
Speaking to Andrew Gourdie and Jim Kayes on RadioLIVE’s Sunday Sport, Whyte acknowledged that Parker was an accomplished boxer with high-quality attributes, noting that the fight would be between two of the top five heavyweights in the world.
Whyte ranks himself, Joshua, Wilder and Tyson Fury above the Kiwi, but he won't be taking the Aucklander lightly.
"Parker is a great fighter," Whyte said. "He is young, hungry and tough, with good boxing ability.
"He has been boxing 21 years, I have been boxing nine years. He has a great chin and all that, but this is the fight game - none of that matters.
"He is a big guy and any heavyweight can win by knockout - that's the nature of what we do. You have to respect that, but I am not worried about it.
"I have fought many big punchers before and only one of them has put me down."
That one heavyweight was Joshua in 2015, when 'AJ' knocked Whyte out in the seventh round.
By comparison, Parker went all 12 rounds, losing a comprehensive points decision in a unification fight in April.
Whyte said that actually gave him an advantage, as he knew what it felt like to be in trouble during a fight and he plans on testing Parker's will when they are face-to-face inside the ring.
"I got beaten by the better man that night, but I am not someone who gets concerned about getting knocked out," Whyte told Newshub.
"Yes, Joseph Parker has power, but I have power too. I have a higher percentage knockout ratio than him, so both of us can punch.
“He needs to watch about my power as much as I do about his. You just have to prepare yourself to the best of your ability, go in there and get the job done."
Newshub.
Join us on July 29 for live updates of the Parker vs Whyte heavyweight boxing fight.
