Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker claims he’s in the best shape of his career and is determined to “smash” Hughie Fury.
Parker defends his WBO world heavyweight title against Fury in Manchester on September 24 (NZT).
He has arrived in London to fine-tune his preparations before transferring north next week.
With just one fight this year, Parker is refreshed and eager for action. He’s also been able to shrug off the shoulder and elbow problems that hampered him during a busy 2016.
“My mind is clear, my body is in great shape. I want to smash this guy,” Parker told Stuff from London.
“I can seriously say I feel the best I have felt in my whole career.
“The focus is on, more so than other times, just because of this … fighting over here.
“I want to make a statement, I want to go out there and punish this guy. I respect him and I respect his team, but I’m just going to go in there and do my thing. I don’t want to say too much, I want to show it.”
Parker says he is invigorated by his new surroundings as he gets set to make his British debut. He’s also buzzing after a second Las Vegas training camp dedicated to Fury after the lanky Brit pulled out of their scheduled meeting in Auckland in May.
“This camp we changed up a few things, we adjusted the training and things to help the pain in the body. There are no distractions so that means there are no excuses.
“You win, that’s awesome. You lose, then there’s no excuse, you have to hit the gym and train harder.
“But I’m really enjoying this experience in Britain. I love fighting back home, I love coming home because we have a great routine, we see the family … but this is something new, it’s exciting me.”
Parker has already gained quick media attention in London. Not surprisingly the talk quickly switched to Britain;’s premier heavyweight Anthony Joshua who holds the IBF and WBA belts and looms as a potential unification fight if Parker can get past Fury.
“I think everyone wants to fight him. He’s a big draw here,” Parker told Sky Sports.
“If I had the chance to fight him, it would be an exciting fight. I back myself with any heavyweight that I get in the ring with, so if I had the opportunity to fight him, I back myself to knock him out.
“Strengths – power, comes forward. Weakness, maybe not too much movement, and I think if we do have a fight I can come up with a style that can approach the style that he brings.
“But he has done your country proud and hopefully one day we can get together and do something.”
