What: Heavyweight WBO Oriental and PABA Title fight
Who: Joseph Parker vs Sherman Williams
When: Thursday, 16 October – from 8pm
Where: The Trusts Arena, Auckland
I can watch it: Sky Arena
Form Guide
Parker: 10-0 (9KO)
Williams: 36-13-2-1 (19KO)
Last Time
These two were scheduled to fight on the Klitschko-Leapai undercard in Germany back in April but Williams, who was one of Klitschko’s ten sparring partners, was kicked out of the Ukranian champion’s camp and refused to take the fight. Klitschko claimed the 42-year-old showed up to training overweight while Williams accused Klitschko of being a ‘whiner’ and a ‘softie’. As the Florida-based Williams nursed his wounded pride, Parker romped to a seventh round TKO win over Brazilian Marcelo Nascimento in a hastily arranged bout. Parker’s win was so impressive that Klitschko’s camp invited the Kiwi to spar with the undefeated heavyweight champ in preparation for an upcoming fight.
Things You Need To Know
A product of South Auckland, 22 year old Parker is undefeated in his 10 professional bouts so far. He’s been busy this year with three fights already including a decisive win over American journeyman Brian Minto in July and a third round TKO of Keith Thompson in Pennsylvania in August.
Parker’s biggest scalp, in June last year, was a two round beat-down of Francois Botha who pushed Sonny Bill Williams for ten rounds and had fought Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson earlier in his career.
Sherman Williams has also been in the ring with Holyfield, but the 42-year-old has been anything but active recently. In the last two years, the ‘Caribbean Tank’ has had just three fights for two losses and a four round unanimous decision win. His bout with Holyfield, for the WBF Heavyweight title in January 2011, was ruled a no contest after an accidental head clash that left Holyfield with a cut above his eye.
The vastly experienced Williams has lost 13 times but has never been stopped. Parker has never been beyond seven rounds but with youth and a 12 centimetre height advantage, he’ll back himself to get the job done.
Reasons To Watch
This is the next step in Parker’s path to the top of the heavyweight division.
Parker is a star on the rise with nine knock-outs in 10 fights while Williams is a slugger on the wane. Considering Parker’s speed, height and reach advantage, he could make history as just the second man to stop Williams short of the distance.
The undercard features Dave ‘Brown Buttabean’ Letele who defeated Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei’s brother, Lopini not long ago. Buttabean takes on Jonah Lomu (not that Jonah) while Reece Papuni takes on Sam ‘Terror’ Rapira (not that Sam Rapira).
Reasons To Look Away
In worrying scenes at training last Friday, Parker crumpled to the ground clutching his left shoulder. He kept his arm in a sling over the weekend and had an injection on Monday but has been cleared to fight. It’s the same injury that hampered the build-up to his last fight, against Brian Minto in July.
Our Prediction
While some are saying the Williams match-up is too much too soon for Parker’s fledgling career, we’re expecting the New Zealander to get the win. Whether he goes the full distance for the first time in his career or is just the second fighter in over 50 bouts to stop ‘The Tank’, Parker will walk away with both belts still around his waist. Too fast, too big, too strong – Parker by knock-out.
TAB.co.nz latest odds
Joseph Parker $1.15 | Sherman Williams $5.00
Parker by KO $1.95 | Parker by decision $2.40