Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker has drawn inspiration from his ringside view of Sunday's Wilder vs Fury thriller, as he prepares for his own next outing on December 15.
The former WBO champion has arrived back in New Zealand from his Las Vegas training camp to complete his build-up for a fight against Alexander 'The Great' Flores in Christchurch, hoping to resurrect his career after consecutive losses.
Parker saw the same determination from rival and pal Tyson Fury that he will also need over the coming months.
"I thought he was incredible, after being out of the ring for two years and facing what he did, going through what he went through and putting on a very clinical performance," he told media at Auckland Airport.
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"It was quite impressive for a big guy to move that well and make [Wilder] miss, doding all the big shots - it made me even more of a fan."
After taking time out of the sport to battle mental health issues, an under-prepared Fury was knocked down twice by American WBC champion Deontay Wilder, but regained his composure to force a split-decision draw, setting up a lucrative future rematch.
"I thought he was gone," admitted Parker, who was close to the action at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.
"It thought he was out and wouldn't get up again, but it shows courage and if he wasn't fit, he wouldn't be able to getback up. He was able to get up and go even harder, landing some good shots after that."
The Parker and Fury camps have become close over recent years - Parker's most recent victory came via majority decision against Tyson Fury's cousin, Hughie, in September 2017.
"I didn't get to see [Tyson Fury] after the fight, but we exchanged a few texts," said Parker. "He's all good and deep down he knows what the result was.
"He's not complaining, he'll be back."
Sitting ringside provided the Kiwi hope with all the motivation he needed - if he needed any - to regain his place near the top of the world heavyweight rankings, after defeats to Brits Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.
"It made me want to fight straight away," he said. "It made me want to fight one of those guys.
"The draw was good for them in terms of a rematch, but for me, we're taking different steps to get back to the top."
"[Fury] hasn't lost any fights like I have, but it's similar with people counting me out, just as they counted him out."
American Flores has been hand-picked to stop Parker's free-fall down the rankings, but the Wilder-Fury performance has put added pressure on the Kiwi to respond with an impressive win, preferably a knockout.
"Tyson Fury really lifted the bar," said Parker's trainer Kevin Barry. Joseph Parker really needs a good performance, if he's to be thought of in the same breath as these elite guy - the Wilders, the Tyson Furys, the Anthony Joshuas, the Dillian Whytes."
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