Joseph Dennis Parker, nicknamed the ‘New Zealander Samoan,’ is a highly accomplished professional boxer hailing from New Zealand. Parker was born on January 9, 1992, in South Auckland, New Zealand, and was raised in Māngere, Auckland, where he attended Marcellin College. Inspired by his father Dempsey, named after boxing legend Jack Dempsey, Parker began boxing at a young age, joining the Papatoetoe Boxing Club at ten. Trained by Grant Arkell and Manny Santos, he admired local boxers David Tua and Maselino Masoe.
Joseph Parker enjoyed a very successful career as an amateur boxer. He became a two-time New Zealand amateur heavyweight champion in 2010 and 2011, winning the 2009 New Zealand Golden Gloves Tournament. Parker began boxing internationally at 16, winning silver at the Commonwealth Boxing Championships in 2010. Despite a bronze at the AIBA Youth World Championships and silver at the Youth Olympics, he secured gold at the Arafura Games in 2011 and continued his success in China and Belgrade.
Parker made his first walk to the squared circle against Dean Garmonsway at Auckland's SkyCity Convention Centre. Garmonsway, a former Waikato Rugby League representative and physical education teacher, had a modest record of two wins and one loss in three professional bouts. The fight was part of the undercard for the Shane Cameron vs. Monte Barrett title eliminator, known as the Godfather of All Fight Nights. At the time, Parker was hailed as New Zealand's most promising boxer since David Tua. Demonstrating his potential, Parker secured victory over Garmonsway via technical knockout in the second round. The ‘New Zealander Samaon’ currently maintains a professional boxing record of 33 wins and 3 losses (33-3-0) with a knockout percentage of 69.7.
Joseph Parker Ethnicity
Joseph Parker's ethnicity is primarily Samoan, tracing back to the Faleula Village on Upolu, the main island, where his mother originates. His parents moved from Samoa to New Zealand in the early 1980s. Parker proudly acknowledges his Samoan roots and is affectionately nicknamed the 'New Zealander Samoan.'
Joseph Parker First Loss
Joseph Parker’s first loss was against Anthony Joshua. The fight took place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on March 31, 2018. Joshua won via a 12-round unanimous decision, claiming the WBO title and retaining his WBA, IBF, and IBO belts. The judges scored the fight 118–110, 118–110, and 119–109 in favor of Joshua. The fight was criticized for the referee's interference, breaking up inside fighting.
After the fight, Joshua explained his strategy, emphasizing the importance of the jab. Parker was humble in defeat, expressing a desire to come back stronger. Punch stats showed Joshua landing 139 of 383 punches, while Parker landed 101 of 492.
Last Updated On December 23, 2023
FAQs
A. Joseph Parker is of Samoan ethnicity.
A. Joseph Parker is a New Zealander.
A. Parker holds a respectable record of 33 wins and 3 losses (33-3-0).
A. Parker is scheduled to fight Deontay Wilder next on December 23, 2023.
A. Parker has only lost against Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte, and Joe Joyce.
