Joseph Parker

Joseph Parker
Parker in Samoa, December 2016
Born
Joseph Dennis Parker

(1992-01-09) 9 January 1992 (age 32)
Auckland, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealand, Samoan
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)[1]
Reach76 in (193 cm)[1]
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights38
Wins35
Wins by KO23
Losses3
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  New Zealand
Arafura Games
Gold medal – first place 2011 Darwin Super-heavyweight
China Open
Gold medal – first place 2011 Guiyang Super-heavyweight
Belgrade Winner Tournament
Gold medal – first place 2012 Belgrade Super-heavyweight
Youth Summer Olympics
Silver medal – second place 2010 Singapore Super-heavyweight
Youth World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Baku Super-heavyweight

Joseph Dennis Parker, OM (born 9 January 1992) is a New Zealand professional boxer. He has held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim heavyweight title since March 2024. Previously, he held the WBO heavyweight title from 2016 to 2018. At regional level, he has held multiple heavyweight championships, including the WBO Oriental, Africa, and Oceania titles; as well as the PABA, OPBF, and New Zealand titles. As an amateur, he represented New Zealand at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the super-heavyweight division, and narrowly missed qualification for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[2]

Parker turned professional in July 2012 with Duco Events in Auckland, under the tutelage of Sir Bob Jones.[3] After defeating Andy Ruiz for the vacant WBO title, Parker became the first heavyweight boxer from either New Zealand or the Pacific Islands to win a major world championship.[4] As of January 2024, he is ranked as the world's fourth best active heavyweight by The Ring[5] magazine, third by BoxRec[6] and fourth best by TBRB.[7] During his reign as WBO champion, he reached a peak active heavyweight ranking of third by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board.[8]

  1. ^ a b Sky Box Office tale of the tape prior to the Dillian Whyte fight.
  2. ^ Barclay, Chris (22 March 2012). "Olympic boxing hopes over for Joseph Parker". Stuff. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  3. ^ Barrett, Cameron (16 May 2012). "Joseph Parker announces professional switch". Stuff. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  4. ^ Kieza, Grantlee (11 December 2016). "New Zealand's Joseph Parker beats Andy Ruiz to claim WBO world heavyweight title". News.com.au. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Ratings". The Ring. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  6. ^ "BoxRec: Ratings". boxrec.com. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Rankings – Transnational Boxing Rankings Board". Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  8. ^ "13 March 2018 | Transnational Boxing Rankings Board". www.tbrb.org. Retrieved 1 August 2018.