Parker vs Takam - April 17th

JK

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker will fight Carlos Takam in a bout that will take him to the verge of a world title fight.
The fight will earn the winner the No 1 mandatory challenger position with the IBF and in line to fight the winner of the looming Charles Martin versus Anthony Joshua title fight.
Takam is a Cameroon-born, French-based fighter with a professional record of 33 wins (25 KOs), two losses (1 KO) and a draw.
</blockquote>
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/77259814/joseph-parker-to-fight-carlos-takam-with-winner-getting-a-world-title-shot'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/77259814/joseph-parker-to-fight-carlos-takam-with-winner-getting-a-world-title-shot</a>
 
 
Big step up and should be a great test and opportunity for Parker
 
 
Also has been talk recently of some rules changes meaning that professional boxers may be able to box at the Olympics which would be pretty interesting!

SammyC

Big step for Parker. Takam's fight against Povetkin has highlights on you tube and looks like it was a real war.

Crucial

How does this work?
 
Erkan Teper is ranked 3rd challenger by the IBF. (positions 1 and 2 are empty)
 
Joshua is 4 but gets the first challenge against Martin
 
Takam and Parker are 5 and 6.
 
Is Teper injured or not interested?

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="560702" data-time="1456366212">
<div>
How does this work?
 
Erkan Teper is ranked 3rd challenger by the IBF. (positions 1 and 2 are empty)
 
Joshua is 4 but gets the first challenge against Martin
 
Takam and Parker are 5 and 6.
 
Is Teper injured or not interested?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
It works however they want it to work. 
 
Teper has been injured and failed a drugs test so his career has taken a stall.

Crucial

In that clip on stuff Takam looked to have no defence. He fights with his hands down and head forward. Parker's speed could open him up.

raznomore

I took a day to digest this. I think this is good. A win cements his "real deal" status and a loss is not career ending for someone so young. 
Takam is not an elite puncher but can bang, an average boxer(tech ability i mean) with good body movement and a wide leg defensive stance. He looks like hes supposed to be there. 
Barry is my big question mark. He took Tua to a title fight with nothing more to his battle plan outside of knock Lewis's block off. That said you can lead a horse to water..Tua will never be accused of being a smart boxer. Still no matter what was being said in the corner between rounds Tua kept walking into jabs and kept swinging for the fences. While Lewis sat back and had his braids done sipping on earl grey. 
Barry has shown restraint in which fights he lets Parker take and hes been quick to correct chinks in the armour from fight to fight. The Tua fight though can not be allowed to happen again. Probably not possible simply because Parker isnt the one trick pony Tua was. But if he gets rattled has Barry done enough with Parker mentally to keep to the game plan or more importantly be able to go to plan B and execute? Fuck i hope so. 
And fuck DUCO for having their horrible grubby c@nt hands in Parkers pockets. I know its the fight game and promoters have a special part of hell reserved for them but fuck I hate the smug c@nt seizure master. Nothing against other people that suffer from these horrible often debilitating things. Just this prick. From his interview I saw yesterday he thinks its about him. No one gives a fuck who you are what your claim to fame is and what you think. Fuck off back to your hole and leave the sport of boxing alone. 
Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

JK

Some highlights of Takam's loss (one of his only 2) to Povetkin in 2014. Was a really good fight

raznomore

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JK" data-cid="560930" data-time="1456453422">
Some highlights of Takam's loss (one of his only 2) to Povetkin in 2014. Was a really good fight <a class="bbc_url" href="

">

</a></blockquote>Great fight. Which there were more like this. Povetkin live and dies by that upper cut though. Someone a little better would have slipped it moved right and exploited the complete lack of defense on his left side. His left glove lives at his waist. His chin is tucked into the shoulder but its open for business if youve got the minerals. 
Much better, more palatable than the Bellator farce i caught the other day in the MMA world. If you dont know Bellator is like the TNA wrestling to UFC's WWE. Some talent, lots of no bodies and some guys well past their prime. 
Main event was between 2 legends of MMA. In fact they should probably be credited with really kicking the whole thing off in North America. Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock. These two contested the original UFC tournament final. Some 20 years ago....let that sink in....if youre think they were like Kobe and came to the game early and are late 30s...unfortunately no. Grace 49 and Shamrock 52!! That was the main event. 
Thats like Tyson vs Holyfield fighting now. Who besides the bored and nostalgic but brain dead would want to watch what was ultimately a load of shit? Shamrock lost after receiving a low blow, missed by the ref, and then tko'd. Believe the spoiler would have been letting you search for the result... 
But..... 
The worst fight i have seen in years was the co-main event between ghetto fisty cuffs legend and Kimbo Slice and some dude called Dada 5000 (the star of a pointless but entertaining doco called Dawg fight). Dada claims to have been Slices body guard and had try to get in to the fight game with slice promoting him but he was never given a fair go. Slice swears on his gold diamond encrusted jesus piece that hes never heard of this n-word. Dada claims he is the ghetto version of Slice, the similarities are they are black, big, from florida, need to beat the fuck out of their barbers and neither can really fight. But just to go back Dada claims to be the ghetto version of a person who is already the ghetto version of himself............... 
Anyway the fight is awful and well worth digging up to have a laugh at. Itll make you feel like you could potentially have a career in mma. I suggest watching after a bout of impotence to cheer yourself up....not that i know whats thats like..

JK

Think I saw that fight. Someone linked me to it and was all soft hugs and panting. Oh and the occasional attempted kick and soft slap...

kiwiinmelb

I think its a good fight for him , 
 
He has to step up in class sooner or later , and Takem isnt a step too far , 
 
I think its a good match up , there is some risk , but there has to be sooner or later , 
 
But I wouldnt read too much into all the mandatory talk , some fighters are mandatory for years and still never get a shot 
 
End of the day its money that talks loudest , Joshua has much more of that to offer with his profile

raznomore

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="561117" data-time="1456476684">I think its a good fight for him , 
He has to step up in class sooner or later , and Takem isnt a step too far , 
I think its a good match up , there is some risk , but there has to be sooner or later , 
But I wouldnt read too much into all the mandatory talk , some fighters are mandatory for years and still never get a shot 
End of the day its money that talks loudest , Joshua has much more of that to offer with his profile</blockquote>
Joshua looks right, speaks eloquently and knows how to sell fights. And he's British. Not forgetting hes a bloody good prospect. Its all his to conquer really. 
Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

wfballLegends

Wow this is a big jump up for Parker! Im not quite sure what to think. This is streets ahead to where he has been at up to this point.
 
This is like taking a schoolboy rugby star and throwing him straight into super rugby. Takam is solid! and will certainly be streets ahead from any fighter Parker has faced.
 
We will learn quickly exactly where Parker stands as a fighter and the heavyweight boxing world will be watching intrigued.
 
I really truthfully thought they would put him in against somebody like a Lucas Browne, Mariusz Wach Robert Helenius type quality - to truly test him out. Win this and waiting will be Povetkin, Puelev, Ortiz and Haye etc after fighting either AJ or Martin. Quite an incredible rise.
 
By going after Takam, if he Parker beats him well then ill be satisfied that he is a true wonder kid talent.
 
Takam can hit, he loves a war and he has a top chin - he is absolutely solid - what a hell of an exciting fight!!!!

Siam

Appreciate your boxing insights meetthemonster, cheers
 
Ok if you were held at knife point by the Topp Twins and had to select the winner or face ten years of servitude to them and Aunt Paddy and Selma...
 
Who would you pick as the winner of this fight?
 
ps. if you get it wrong, you're still saved, but no fence sitting :)

wfballLegends

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="561344" data-time="1456558328">
<div>
Appreciate your boxing insights meetthemonster, cheers
 
Ok if you were held at knife point by the Topp Twins and had to select the winner or face ten years of servitude to them and Aunt Paddy and Selma...
 
Who would you pick as the winner of this fight?
 
ps. if you get it wrong, you're still saved, but no fence sitting :)
</div>
</blockquote>
 
wow you know this is a really tough one to pick because it is a real fence sitter because Parker if he wins I think he blasts Takam out early, that's the only way I can see the win though. Barry and Duco must surely know more about Parkers ability to throw him in the ring with Takam, than what we have seen previously. It feels rushed to me but .......... they must rate Parkers hand speed and hand power to go this road now. 
So I do pick Parker to lose this only because I don't think Takam will go all out for the war early. I think he will let Parker set his pace for the first 4 rounds and get comfortable, read his range and then I think Takam will catch him with clean shot, it probably wont be a knockout but for the first time in Parkers career he will go into his shell and Takam will dictate terms. If Parker doesn't go into his shell then obviously then Takam will make it a war and Parker hasn't had a war yet, not a proper one and I think Takam is so solid he wouldn't let a relative rookie in Parker dictate terms. 
This also would be the first time Parker had bonafide international pressure on him with serious ramifications. Its rushed, its happened so quickly, it smells of money to me but HEY, he could truthfully be a prodigy. 
I want Parker to win, I am intrigued because Takam by no means is heavy weight champion of the world quality but he is tough as concrete and has more skills than most outside the unified top 10 lists. At 35 his power is still there, his knowledge of the game fully rounded. Parker's speed will be nullified by timing. INTRIGUING FIGHT INDEED and bloody dangerous!

Siam

Excellent analysis, thanks

kiwiinmelb

Parkers biggest concern for me is his conditioning and defense , the last fight in Samoa he was blowing hard in middle rounds 
 
Latter rounds with a more experienced fighter could be taking him into deep water , 
 
And he these moments, usually just after he has thrown a combination where he looks forward , flat footed with his hands low , at that moment he looks really vulnerable to a good counter puncher , 
 
I dont know so much about Takem and his ability to counter punch , but I would really fear for him up against a David Haye type

wfballLegends

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="561417" data-time="1456595506">
<div>
Parkers biggest concern for me is his conditioning and defense , the last fight in Samoa he was blowing hard in middle rounds 
 
Latter rounds with a more experienced fighter could be taking him into deep water , 
 
And he these moments, usually just after he has thrown a combination where he looks forward , flat footed with his hands low , at that moment he looks really vulnerable to a good counter puncher , 
 
I dont know so much about Takem and his ability to counter punch , but I would really fear for him up against a David Haye type 
</div>
</blockquote>

Bang on the money - You wont hear our commentators saying it but Parkers hands speed are falsely covering up his lack of foot movement against weaker opponents. He also has a terrible habit of sticking his chin out. Parkers hand speed will only mean something if his defense and strength are strong. Against Takam he will need EXTRA!! - and Takam will bang his body with bombs, he is a very well rounded boxer. Like a said a really dangerous fight for Parker. 
If I have a young prospect like Parker that im managing, there is absolutely no way id warm him up for a fight against Takam by fighting Jason Bergman of all people. 
Takam will be favorite to win this with the bookies overseas, if TAB do something stupid and make Parker favorite then jump on Takams odds as more than likely he will be paying way overvalue! - either way you win though id rather Parker win than pocket money. 
Take note Takam is a much better fighter than current IBF champion Charles Martin that Parker had to turn down. The irony is Parker had to take the most hardest path to fight the winner of Martin and AJ fight coming up. Martin is cashing out against the weakest possible option in AJ (AJ is not weak but he is the most likely to get beat after Parker for Martin) 
Duco turned Martin down for a shot because he asked for $5m and Martin was willing to bring the fight to NZ because nobody wants to buy tickets to see Parker in the USA - they dont know him or respect him yet. Duco simply do not have that money. Back to Takam - most people who watch Heavyweight boxing would have Takam taking Martin out within 6 rounds if they were to fight.
 
No matter what happens in the Martin and AJ fight and the Parker and Takam fight - no one thing - the IBF is the joke of world boxing, the easiest path to winning a world title and devoid of the serious boxers that matter. BUT Parker wins this then he will have the easiest path to one of the 4 Heavyweight titles and he will be a legit contender from this point forward.

wfballLegends

This is a direct quote from David Haye warning AJ not to fight Takam yet just before AJ agreed to fight Martin
 
<div>Originally by David Haye</div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">â€œIâ€™ve heard that the IBF has mandated that he fight Carlos Takam for the No.1 spot for the IBF for Charles Martinâ€™s title. In theory, that sounds fine, but Carlos Takam was a sparring partner I had over for two months. I used him before I fought Chisora. I think heâ€™s bigger, stronger, better punch variety, a better puncher, and a better chin than Chisora. Heâ€™s like a third times better version than Chisora. Iâ€™m not sure if thatâ€™s the right approach for him just yet, because the pressure that heâ€™ll get put on by Takam will be like no other pressure that heâ€™s had before. So is that the route youâ€™re going to go down?â€</div>

Crucial

This cracks me up. If a guy isn't fighting top fighters he gets shit, if he lines up a top fighter he isn't ready yet.
 
Reality is that the guys at the same level as you aren't going to fight you because of the career risk. You either have to have experience fights below your level or aim high.
 
People have been accusing Duco of ripping off the public with rubbish opposition but now they are money grabbing by lining up a bigger fight. No wonder this game attracts thick skinned types that don't give a shit and will spin what they have.

wfballLegends

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="561474" data-time="1456615776">
<div>
This cracks me up. If a guy isn't fighting top fighters he gets shit, if he lines up a top fighter he isn't ready yet.
 
Reality is that the guys at the same level as you aren't going to fight you because of the career risk. You either have to have experience fights below your level or aim high.
 
People have been accusing Duco of ripping off the public with rubbish opposition but now they are money grabbing by lining up a bigger fight. No wonder this game attracts thick skinned types that don't give a shit and will spin what they have.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Mate, look at it for what it is. There is no attack on Duco with this, so no need to be precious. Of course this is about $ for Duco, do you actually think they do it out of love for Parker and the NZ public? - they have rushed Parker into a major dangerous fight - which hey he could win. Takam is seriously decent. From where Parker is currently it is a substantial jump in quality of fighters. Probably a 3 tier jump in standard. Risky - MUCH! 
Nobody knows what level Parker is at because his resume respectfuly is full of bums and sub par fighters and his last fight against a really low standard in Bergman cringe worthy. To jump up to Takam is BIG, certainly respect tha,t but the only way you can view it as is Duco deciding its time to cash in. Maybe Parker has a limited contract with them, who knows. But its pay day city if he beats Takam that is for sure!
 
Fight preparation he is not ready for Takam, but perhaps talent wise he probably is - this will be the biggest and probably hardest fight of his career - easy.

The Silver Fern

Parker vs Takam - April 17th