Lessons from Dillian Whyte loss

ED MULLHOLLAND/MATCHROOM BOXING USA

Joseph Parker tipped the scales at 109kg, while Alex Leapai came in at 115kg.

Almost a year on, Joseph Parker's controversial defeat to Dillian Whyte still lingers in the Kiwi's camp.

Of course, the second-round headbutt, that was incorrectly ruled a knockdown, left a sour taste, as did the underhanded tactics White employed to outmuscle Parker and clinch a unanimous decision victory, despite a late surge from the former WBO champion.

But time to reflect also left trainer Kevin Barry wondering if he did enough to prepare Parker for what was about to come his way.

The 27-year-old returned to the winner's circle last December against Alexander Flores and is looking to back that up against Alex Leapai in Providence, Rhode Island on Saturday (Sunday NZ time). But if Leapai was planning to follow the Whyte blueprint to victory, Barry was adamant they won't let that happen again.

BEN HOSKINS/GETTY IMAGES

Joseph Parker during last year's controversial defeat to Dillian Whyte.

"People look at that and think, this is the way to beat Joseph Parker, we've got to rough him up," Barry said. "I was very disappointed after that Dillian Whyte fight, one, with the officials but I was a little bit disappointed with myself that maybe I hadn't given Joe enough of the actual down and dirty part of the professional game. 

"So we made sure after that we would never ever go into a fight where if it was going to turn into a real down and dirty brawl, we'd make sure we'd give as good as we'd take."

Parker was coasting until he was hit in the back of the head by Whyte's dome last July in London, leaving him concussed for the majority of the contest.

Had the knockdown been called a head clash, the result almost certainly would have been a draw. Without the effects of the headbutt, which severely hindered his control of distance, Parker may well have gone on to win given how sharp he looked early on. But there were no regrets from anyone in Team Parker about taking the fight. He received a lucrative payday and it could have potentially secured a rematch against Anthony Joshua, when the British star still held three of the top four world titles.

Despite all the adversity, the fact that Parker bit down on the mouthpiece, regained his composure and rallied back to almost snatch a thrilling victory in the final round reinforced to Barry exactly what he is capable of.

"It actually really annoyed me after the Joshua-Andy Ruiz fight where everyone was saying poor Anthony Joshua was concussed, he couldn't clear his head from the third round where he got hit on the temple. 

"Joseph Parker was concussed from the second round, not from a punch to the temple, but with a headbutt to the cerebellum. It was a phenomenally damaging blow but it showed the character of the man.

"Even when in a concussed state and where he had lost total control of distance... yet he still grafted and grunted away and we came within a hair's whisker from pulling off a sensational last-round knockout."

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The former Samoan-Kiwi heavyweight boxer says the heavyweight division right now is "exciting."

Parker faces Leapai in the co-featured bout at the Dunkin' Donuts Centre, which thankfully is an indoor arena after the weigh-in was held outside on a sweltering day, with temperatures around 30 degrees.

Parker tipped the scales at 109kg, six kilos lighter than Leapai, although the Kiwi holds a 10cm height advantage.

Barry knows Leapai's trainer, Noel Thornberry, well and doesn't expect any dirty tactics.

But he has no doubt the Australian will try to impose his physicality on Parker.

"It's not rocket science. It's the only way that he could possibly put himself in a position to be successful," the trainer said. "He's not going to try and out-box Joe or out-skill Joe, he needs to outmuscle him, that's his only chance."

TALE OF THE TAPE

JOSEPH PARKER (NZ)

Age: 27
Record: (25-2 19, KOs)
KO%: 70%
Weight: 109kg
Height: 193cm
Reach: 193cm
Stance: Orthodox

ALEX LEAPAI (AUS)

Age: 39
Record: (32-7-4, 26 KOs)
KO%: 60%
Weight: 115kg
Height: 183cm
Reach: 190cm
Stance: Orthodox