Parker vs Whyte: Sparring partners prepare Parker for next opponent

  • 11/07/2018

Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker and his team are scouring the countryside for Dillian Whyte lookalikes to practice on in the build-up to this months' fight in London.

The encounter at O2 Arena looms as a make-or-break for both fighters, each with just one loss in their professional careers - both to reigning IBF, WBA and WBO world champion Anthony Joshua.

The Briton knocked out White in December 2015, but needed a unanimous points decision to claim the WBO belt in March this year.

Whoever wins Parker vs Whyte will likely get another crack at Joshua, but the loser will tumble a little further down the already crowded heavyweight ranks.

"It's very dangerous, but we're doing everything we can to prepare well and we know, going into the fight, we'll be in the best shape," Parker told Sky Sport UK. "No excuses."

Part of that preparation has trainers Kevin and Taylor Barry recruiting sparring partners that replicated Whyte's fighting style.

"We look at fighters that have a lot of similarities to what he brings," said Parker. "Kevin and Taylor [Barry] reach out to those we think will match perfectly.

"I think the guys we have right now are good and there are other guys coming in. Hopefully, they will give us the best work they have."

Among those filing through Parker's workout venue are regular sparring partner Malik Scott and Eric Molina, who also has a loss to Joshua on his 26-5 career record.

"For this Dillian Whyte fight, obviously, he's got a very aggressive come-forward style," Kevin Barry told Sky Sport UK. "He likes to engage.

"It's important for us that Joe fights a certain way in this fight and we'll be looking to employ our game-plan that we've put in place, and keep perfecting it and getting better with it every time in sparring."

Parker echoed that sentiment.

"Training sessions are the best time to try the things we've been learning - combinations, punches, different things we've been working on.

"It's a great time to try and implement them into our session. When you do it here, you do it in the fight.

Parker agreed to the fight a month ago and will have had only seven weeks to prepare by the time he steps into the ring on July 29 (NZ time).

"No problems," insisted Parker. "We came into camp in good shape and if we thought it wouldn't work, we wouldn't have taken the fight."

 Newshub.

Join us on July 29 for live updates of the Joseph Parker vs Dillian Whyte heavyweight boxing.