Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (25-2 19 KOs) will face Alex Leapai (32-7-4 26 KOs) on his return to action at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island on Saturday June 29 live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK. Parker fights for the first time under the Matchroom Boxing USA banner and national pride will be at stake as Leapai is a Samoan-Australian who spent part of his childhood in New Zealand.
“Over the past six years of being a professional this is the first time that I’ve come into camp at a good weight,” said Parker. “I’m enjoying camp more as a result I think, because we’re working more on skills and technique rather than focusing on losing weight. I feel faster, I feel everything is clicking, less injuries and everything is on track.
“With each opponent you see what their style brings and you adjust accordingly what you will do in the ring, there’s a lot that I am doing that I am excited about, like making angels and throwing different combinations, and I’m just looking forward to putting it on display on June 29.
“A stoppage would be nice, that’s the goal going into every fight. I just have to change up the mind set to not only go in there and win, but go in and KO someone and make a statement. This is my first fight with Matchroom Boxing USA and DAZN so I want to make that statement, there’s no pressure but I do have to go out there and look good.
“I would love to avenge the losses that I have had against Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte. I’ll fight them tomorrow. But Dillian is trying to fight for the WBC title so respect to him for that, but if the opportunity came along I would love that fight again.”
“I am the Samoan Andy Ruiz – the guy everyone writes off,” said Leapai. “This will be the second massive upset this year because Parker is getting sparked. Then I’m going to take Andy’s Snickers off him!”
Parker’s clash with Leapai is part of a night of World championship action in Rhode Island as unbeaten hometown favorite Demetrius Andrade defends his WBO Middleweight strap against Poland’s Maciej Sulecki, unbeaten Briton Kal Yafai puts his WBA Super-Flyweight title against mandatory challenger Norbelto Jimenez.
It wouldn’t be the first Snickers he’s taken.
Haha, i wonder how long it will be before the snickers references stop. Every underdog will drop the line for feel good publicity.
Bum fight of the year. Leapai should be fighting Browne who should be fighting de Mori. Parker needs a easy win to get another payday fight.
I wouldn’t write off Leapai. Since November 2006 (after a 15 month lay off from the start of his career), he is 30-5-2 (25 KOs). And one loss was a split decision loss, that he avenged with a KO, and one draw he avenged with a KO. Now one guy he KO’d twice in a row, with a really bad losing record, back in 2009 (so maybe say those 2 wins didn’t really count). I would say that a good record to go with for Leapai is 28-5-2 (23 KOs) which is about what his record is for 12 straight years from late 2006 to late 2018.. That is a pretty legit record. And he did make $6 million off of the Klitschko fight. He should have had money in advance for training expenses/travel in a savings account in case he got another big opportunity, which this one is, and way on the other side of the world from where Leapai and Parker reside.
So Leapai is the Samoan Andy Ruiz? Maybe he doesn’t realize that Parker is the only one who beat Ruiz.
Well, of all the recent mismatches and meaningless fights we had had recently, this one of Parker vs. Leapai is taking the lead. I hope Parker and his people have a bit of intelligence to realize that facing this kind of opposition is not the right way to call the attention to be taken into account for a big money figh after his stock as a price fighter is in a very low position due to losses to Joshua and Whyte. A fight against Joe Joyce aor at least A. Povetkin could be better
i think parkers choice of opponents is going backwards cant see himself doing any good fighting leapai ,although he is a tough dude hopefully parker can get through this one as i still believe parker still has the tools to cause a upset in the future
Parker should be fighting povetkin or at least someone in the top 20 he is selling himself short
What a waste of time this is. How does this help him in getting back into the mix of titles?