On February 22, Joseph Parker will finally get his chance to win back the world title he lost almost 6 years ago. And to lay claim to his lost prize, the Kiwi fighter will have to face the IBF heavyweight champion, Daniel Dubois, with an opportunity to face the unified heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk. Yes, you heard that right. The same Usyk who defeated Tyson Fury twice in a row.
It has been quite a tedious journey for Parker back to the top after losing the title back in 2018. However, with enough resilience and the drive to get back his world title, the Kiwi fighter has made it back. However, this didn’t happen without the support and dedication of Parker’s team toward him. So, let’s have a look at the person behind ‘Lupesoliai La’auliolemalietoa’s professional success.
Who coaches Joseph Parker?
Andy Lee currently trains Joseph Parker, the WBO Interim Heavyweight Champion. Hailing from Bow, London, Lee himself is a former world champion and held the WBO middleweight title from 2014 to 2015. Lee joined Parker’s team in 2021 before the latter’s fight against Derek Chisora.
It was a time when Parker needed a switch in his mindset, given the recent slump he was in. Reportedly, it was Tyson Fury himself who advised Lupesoliai La’auliolemalietoa to look at the Irishman. After all, the 2004 Olympian is Fury’s second cousin and was Gypsy King’s assistant trainer to SugarHill Steward for Fury’s rematch over Deontay Wilder.
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(@skysportsboxing)‘Irish’ has been instrumental in Joseph Parker’s recent success, including his victory over Deontay Wilder in 2023, which catapulted him back to the top. Ever since Lee has taken over New Zealander’s training, there have been significant changes in the latter’s fighting style. He has started to commit more to his power shots and now engages more effectively in close-range exchanges.
Something which was evident against Deontay Wilder. It was a performance that even left Lee mesmerized, as he could only muster up “Masterclass” while defining his fighter’s performance. If Joseph Parker is somehow able to replicate that performance, we might see another title change. However, if that happens, Lee will be the second coach under whom the South Auckland native has won the world title.
Brian isn’t the only one behind Parker’s journey
Before teaming up with Andy Lee, Parker was trained by Kevin Barry. The duo had been together since 2013 and Barry was significant in Lupesoliai La’auliolemalietoa’s WBO heavyweight title victory in 2016. The break was all circumstantial and there was no bad blood between the pair as it was no longer possible for Barry to stay in New Zealand, something that his fighter wanted to do to spend more time with his family.
Joseph Parker has been vocal about Barry’s involvement in his success and according to him, “Without Kevin, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Though the drifting apart was quite mellow, the pair agreed that it was “fitting that we closed this chapter of my career with a win in front of a great home crowd in Auckland, and with bigger things just on the horizon.”
Both Parker and Barry are proud of the journey they have taken together and the WBO interim heavyweight champion knows that “Kevin will always be in my corner,” no matter what. As Joseph Parker treads on another journey to establish himself as the top star with Andy Lee in his corner and Kevin Barry behind him, we might see him pull out another masterclass.
Do you think he can pull it off? Let us know your predictions for the heavyweight clash in the comments down below.
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