Former heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker believes his close relationship to boxers of the Traveller race including Tyson Fury and Andy Lee has been enhanced by his own Samoan ancestry and understanding of the tribalism of Oceania the former heavyweight world champion explained this week as he prepares to meet Derek Chisora in the headline event in Manchester next Saturday.
Parker has an ongoing friendship with self-styled ‘Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury and fellow Traveller Lee, now his trainer, having announced an “amicable split” after with long-term trainer Kevin Barry, the former New Zealand Olympic Games medallist. Earlier this year, Parker teamed up with former middleweight world champion Lee as his trainer, the Irish traveller a renowned and intellectual technician of the sport. Lee was a member of the training group which oversaw Tyson Fury’s victory over Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas last February, and Parker was impressed by his knowledge. It was while Fury was training in Las Vegas last year, Parker and the World Boxing Council champion became “firm friends”.
Parker suggests that “connection” may have begun on the night in Manchester in September 2017, when Parker successfully defended his WBO heavyweight crown against Hughie Fury. They all did the Haka with Parker post-fight. “The fight with (Hughie) Fury was the first time I ever met Tyson. And then after it was the result they didn’t want, they were able to put that aside and come to the room and just chill and celebrate and do the most awful haka I’ve ever seen by anyone. I stopped doing it because I knew it was that bad.” laughed Parker, recalling it. “But I feel that’s the point where we started this great friendship and sort of brotherhood.”
Parker has fought four of his last eight fights since 2016 in the UK, contests which included a world title defence against Hughie Fury, Tyson Fury’s cousin, afterwards suffering defeat in a world title unification with Anthony Joshua and losing in a brilliant contest with Dillian Whyte. But in the process, the New Zealand based Samoan has created a fan base in the UK and relationships with the Furys, Billy Joe Saunders and Lee, all of the traveller race.
“It’s a new life, a new set up. I never even thought I’d be training in the U.K., have a camp here. But it’s happened and I’m very happy,” explained Parker, revealing that there is a closeness to the Traveller fighters.
“I think you’re right, it is like a tribe. In New Zealand we have the Maoris, we have a very diverse community. Everyone sticks with their tribe. Tyson, there’s Billy Joe, there’s Andy Lee, I feel like I fit right into – not necessarily their tribe – but we understand each other. We get along very well and I feel very fortunate and blessed to train alongside them. It’s something new and something different. It’s always great to learn from cultures and tribes.”
Yet victory over Chisora, who has gone from bad boy of British boxing to cult hero in the last three years, could propel Parker back towards reclaiming a world title. In spite of the friendship with Fury, it is a fight Parker relishes. “I’ve always said I would love to fight the best and him and Anthony Joshua are the best in the world, they hold all the belts. He’s made it clear to me that he will never fight me and he doesn’t see a reason to fight me and he’ll fight everyone else. I respect that. If I want to fight him I can keep calling him out. If he doesn’t want to fight him that’s his own decision.”
As the official announcement of the mega-fight between Fury and Joshua approaches, Parker added: “I’m a little biased, I’m close to Tyson. We all know they’re both great champions. Both from the U.K. and it’s going to be a great fight. I back Fury and I feel he could get a stoppage. But if I had my choice, I would like to rematch Joshua.” But back to Chisora, and the date with destiny next Saturday night. “I’m looking forward to it,” added Parker. “Andy is a very good teacher. My style hasn’t changed a lot but it’s improved and looks a lot better. It’s refreshing. It’s a new voice. The whole package, the whole team, different gyms — it’s all exciting and all new. I feel like I’m at the beginning my career again.”
Derek Chisora vs Joseph Parker is live on Sky Box Office on Saturday May 1