Klitschko, Fury, Parker, Takam & Joshua

Crucial

Full fight is on youtube.
 
Parker admitted afterwards that he kept going for the head too much even though the plan was to work Takam over on the body.
He did get some good body shots in though.

wfballLegends

Congratulations to Parker, he got past a very very VERY difficult opponent.
 
This fight proved a boxer should be developed gradually rather than be just thrown in the deep end against a well rounded and experienced fighter. I would dare say this, if Takam had the knockout power of heavyweights like Joshua or Wilder im convinced Parker would of been knocked out. Parker was gassed from the fifth round and lost his punching power. He edged Takam in the crucial rounds due to Takams lack of activity and essentially allowed himself to take a barrage of hits that you simply can no do against a true banger in this division.
 
Lets look at the answers we got from the fight in regards to Parker - as he did pass the acid test! Positives
 
- Parker has close to if not the best hand speed in the division, an attribute that will steal him rounds if he lives behind that jab
- Parker has huge heart, he was certainly gassed from the fifth round onwards but just dug deep to find the strength to make it to the 12th round .

Parker fired back under pressure. At many times when Takam was on him loading up, Parker responded blow to blow, to do that showed us when his back is against the wall he doesnt quit, probably the most important attribute a boxer can have. I think Takam took Parker to some dark places in that fight and Parker responded in heart.
- Parker can take a shot, he has a solid chin against the level of fighter Takam represents as a top 10/gate keeper of the division.
- Parker found a 2nd wind to compose himself at the end. This took a ton of grit to discover.
- Parker is only 24 years old and stepped up a long way to fight a battle hardened and very composed Takam. Fights like this can create future champions. This is a fight most fighter would avoid in this division.
- What Parker and his trainer would of learned from this fight is invaluable. They have plenty to work on to make Parker a more complete fighter now.
 
 
Negatives
 
- This was not a highlight reels fight for Parker. Takam was manhandling Parker several times during the fight, it was so bad that if Takam had the power of a Haye, Joshua, Wilder or Ortiz im utterly convince Parker would of been knocked out.
- Parkers defense under pressure was horrid, he would be exposed by higher ranked fighters. He made it to the end of the fight due to Takam not having ko power in his hands and Parker having a decent enough chin. But make no mistake, Parker allowed himself to take to many shots because he was so tired. Against a boxer like Ortiz, Haye, Wilder and AJ this would of been a KO loss.
- Parker was throwing many slap shots with his right hand, most landing with the inside of his glove, thats horrible and amateur level stuff.
- Parker does not have the punching power we though he had. It was missing and dare say while his hand speed is close to the best in the heaveyweight division his power has been overated.
- Parker looked disorganised, as soon as he was gassed, most structure went out the window, and unto a late 2nd wind at the end parker was gettibg by on heart alone and a chin that could take what Takam threw.
- Parker is always open to counters, to being crowded and hustled and his footwork poor.
 
So how does this stack up heading into the future and a probable fight in November on the undercard for Joshua. Im convinced they are going to put Parker in with Dillian Whyte. They are going to have him replicate what Joshua did before his Martin fight to set up a future pay per view. Below is a unbiased ranking of the heavyweights, bolded are fighters much more dangerous than Takam that Parker would be wise to avoid for a couple of years and simply develop and target an 18month fight against Joshua. There is not to many of them which is great for Parker. Just take the time to develop him now. His defense needs major work and there is simply no need to rush him after surviving that Takam scare.

T. Fury 25-0(18) WBA (Super), WBO, IBO, Ring, Lineal
W. Klitschko 64-4(53) 3. A. Povektin 30-1(22) 4. D. Wilder 36-0(35) WBC 5. A. Joshua 16-0(16) IBF
K. Pulev 23-1(12) EBU 7. L. Ortiz 25-0(22) WBA (Interim)
J. Parker 19-0(16) 9. D. Haye 28-2(26)
M. Scott 38-2-1(13)
J. Duahpas 34-2-1(21) WBC Silver
E. Teper 15-0(10)
C. Martin 23-1-1(21)
V. Glazkov 21-1-1(13)
D. Breazeale 17-0(15) WBC Americas
B. Jennings 19-2(10)
R. Chagaev 34-2-1(21)
A. Tarver 31-6(22)
B. Stiverne 25-2-1(21)
C. Takam 33-3-1(25)
D. Chisora 25-6(17)
L. Browne 23-0(20)
G. Washington 17-0-1(11)
M. Perez 21-2-1(13)
A. Spzilika 20-2(15)
T. Thompson 40-7(27)
E. Molina 25-3(19) IBF Intercontinental
J. Miller 16-0-1(14) WBA NABA
A. Mansour 22-2-1(16)
R. Helenius 22-1(13)
A. Ruiz 27-0(18)
A. Fedosov 28-3(23)
C. Hammer 19-4(10)
A. Unistov 33-1(24) WBA International
H. Fury 20-0(11) WBO Intercontinental
T. Bryan 16-0(11)
C. Arreola 36-4-1(31)
D. Rossy 30-11(14)
M. Wach 31-2(17)
S. Briggs 60-6-1(53)

booboo

Thanks mtm. My knowledge of boxing is limited to the fact that there are two blokes trying to hit each other. But I've jumped the bandwagon :). 
You mention Whyte as a potential opponent but I can't see him on that list?

wfballLegends

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="581513" data-time="1463870498">
<div>
Thanks mtm. My knowledge of boxing is limited to the fact that there are two blokes trying to hit each other. But I've jumped the bandwagon :). 
You mention Whyte as a potential opponent but I can't see him on that list?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Whyte is unranked in most divisions, I think he'd struggle to be a current top 40 fighter but I see the UK media shaping a Whyte vs Parker fight already. Meaning Hern would of organized Whyte to be interviewed and on SKY tv UK trashing parker for a potential November showdown introducing Parker to the British public. Whyte is fresh in the public's mind due to his recent ko loss at the hands of Joshua. And id dare say he has a fight left for PPV on his contract with Hern

kiwiinmelb

Good post M T M , 
I was worried about this fight before , was aware of Joes defensive flaws , and wasn't sure about his chin . 
What was concerns me , we know about joes power , but when he unleashes those powerful combos , it really does empty his tank , that was not a concern against the lesser fighters . 
But Takam showed the better fighters won't drop as easy . And if Joe paces himself to go the distance he becomes a less intimidating prospect , there is a balancing act somewhere for them to work out .

Rembrandt

Yeah big lessons to be learnt from that passage where he unleashed on Takam and Takam didn't go do down but instead managed to throw a couple back. How is Joshua's chin? Would he have withstood that?

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="581523" data-time="1463874723">
<div>
Yeah big lessons to be learnt from that passage where he unleashed on Takam and Takam didn't go do down but instead managed to throw a couple back. How is Joshua's chin? Would he have withstood that?
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</blockquote>
He got rocked very easily in round 2 against Dillan Whyte, the only time someone has thrown a punch back at him. Unfortunately for Whyte he was too slow to realise and Joshua got away with it.

taniwharugby

some interesting callers on Talkback this morning...some saying it was fixed, some saying Takam shoulda won and some obviously thinking it went to JP as the scores did.
 
Apparently Lonergan is gonna look at legal action against illegal streams of the fight, upto 20,000 people watched via 1 apparently

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="581528" data-time="1463877773">some interesting callers on Talkback this morning...some saying it was fixed, some saying Takam shoulda won and some obviously thinking it went to JP</blockquote>
 
Talkback eh. There's always someone trying to make themselves feel important by putting the boot in. 
It was a hard fight and Joe was always going to get the crowd influencing the judges to an extent. Takam probably the guy taking the biggest risk thinking he could KO Parker when his record doesn't have him KOing anyone of ability.

wfballLegends

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="581528" data-time="1463877773">
<div>
some interesting callers on Talkback this morning...some saying it was fixed, some saying Takam shoulda won and some obviously thinking it went to JP as the scores did.
 
Apparently Lonergan is gonna look at legal action against illegal streams of the fight, upto 20,000 people watched via 1 apparently
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Parker certainly won the fight 115 - 113 in my eyes - it was close and Takam really should of taken him out of there with his experience, Parkers heart said different. Problem is Takam looked the much better fighter from the 5th round on. What people didnt pick up though was Takams tank was also empty, though he paced himself a lot better than Parker did. 
Soon as your fighter is shown on major UK or USA tv Lonergan you will never be able to stop the free streams. Obviously they didnt make as much as they thought they were going to from PPV. $49.99 is quite expensive when compare to other prime boxers PPV.

wfballLegends

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="581525" data-time="1463875640">
<div>
He got rocked very easily in round 2 against Dillan Whyte, the only time someone has thrown a punch back at him. Unfortunately for Whyte he was too slow to realise and Joshua got away with it. 
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</blockquote>
 
AJ is one boxer who can blast his way out of trouble. Might not always work but he has legit knock out power.

MN5

Great post mtm, safe to say you're something of an authority on the sweet science.
 
Pretty amusing hearing Lonegan get all shitty and say he's coming after those who streamed illegally. I think Lonegan is a typical loudmouth dick as someone said earlier but the point he makes are quite vaild. There'll be a few nerds shitting bricks about being caught cos apparently it's quite easy to track via the decoder.
 
Parker came through the test extremely well and showed Stamina and a chin that some may have doubted earlier on.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="meetthemonster" data-cid="581539" data-time="1463879879">
Parker certainly won the fight 115 - 113 in my eyes - it was close and Takam really should of taken him out of there with his experience, Parkers heart said different. Problem is Takam looked the much better fighter from the 5th round on. What people didnt pick up though was Takams tank was also empty, though he paced himself a lot better than Parker did. 
Soon as your fighter is shown on major UK or USA tv Lonergan you will never be able to stop the free streams. Obviously they didnt make as much as they thought they were going to from PPV. $49.99 is quite expensive when compare to other prime boxers PPV.</blockquote>
It wasn't just streams of the broadcast either. It was people simply cell phoning the game live to Facebook and periscope. 
$50 is way too much for me to dish out on an event that could potentially be over in minutes. 
$20 and I would probably have paid last minute as I was up and keen to watch.

nostrildamus

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="meetthemonster" data-cid="581512" data-time="1463869650">
<div> Negatives
 
- This was not a highlight reels fight for Parker. Takam was manhandling Parker several times during the fight, it was so bad that if Takam had the power of a Haye, Joshua, Wilder or Ortiz im utterly convince Parker would of been knocked out.
- Parkers defense under pressure was horrid, he would be exposed by higher ranked fighters. He made it to the end of the fight due to Takam not having ko power in his hands and Parker having a decent enough chin. But make no mistake, Parker allowed himself to take to many shots because he was so tired. Against a boxer like Ortiz, Haye, Wilder and AJ this would of been a KO loss.
- Parker was throwing many slap shots with his right hand, most landing with the inside of his glove, thats horrible and amateur level stuff.
- Parker does not have the punching power we though he had. It was missing and dare say while his hand speed is close to the best in the heaveyweight division his power has been overated.
- Parker looked disorganised, as soon as he was gassed, most structure went out the window, and unto a late 2nd wind at the end parker was gettibg by on heart alone and a chin that could take what Takam threw.
- Parker is always open to counters, to being crowded and hustled and his footwork poor.
</div>
</blockquote>
Great post and I agree with all of this. I wonder if Barry's coaching is at top level? Because Parker seems to have the athleticism and work ethic..
I also wondered about his upper cut..Takam has a solid head but the way he pushed his chin forward and protected the sides with his hands up high I thought an upper cut or two in the later rounds might be interesting?
But overall yes a lack of power from Parker at this level, and not keeping his distance and using his superior reach showed he still has some way to go.

No Quarter

I don't watch much boxing but one question I have is if Joshua is only 16-0 and has not fought anyone of Takam's ability yet, why is he rated so highly? Is he just knocking guys out with ease ala Tyson?

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="meetthemonster" data-cid="581539" data-time="1463879879">
<div>
Parker certainly won the fight 115 - 113 in my eyes - it was close and Takam really should of taken him out of there with his experience, Parkers heart said different. Problem is Takam looked the much better fighter from the 5th round on. What people didnt pick up though was Takams tank was also empty, though he paced himself a lot better than Parker did. 

</div>
</blockquote>
 
I reckon the concerning thing for the Parker camp was that Joseph didn't look that busy in the first four rounds that he should have been looking so knackered by round five. Takam wouldn't have needed to be a lot busier to have picked up a lot of those middle and later rounds (6/7 and 10/11 all of which I think Parker won).
 
I suppose on the plus side - at the end of round eight - watching live you would have been expecting Takam to go on to a knock out and it was doubtless fortuitous that he ran out of gas as well.

kiwiinmelb

I paid for it here in Aus , 
Only complaint from me from a value for money point of view was the standard of the fights on the undercard .

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="581563" data-time="1463886280">
<div>
I paid for it here in Aus , 
Only complaint from me from a value for money point of view was the standard of the fights on the undercard .
</div>
</blockquote>
For Duco's low standards, that was a great card but yes it was an average card by normal standards.

wfballLegends

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="581561" data-time="1463885804">
<div>
I don't watch much boxing but one question I have is if Joshua is only 16-0 and has not fought anyone of Takam's ability yet, why is he rated so highly? Is he just knocking guys out with ease ala Tyson?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Sensational knockouts, sensational build, even better PR company, Best manager in the UK and possibly world boxing = hype

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="meetthemonster" data-cid="581591" data-time="1463895703">
<div>
Sensational knockouts, sensational build, even better PR company, Best manager in the UK and possibly world boxing = hype
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Plus an Olympic gold medal led him to be highly rated before the pro career started .

The Silver Fern

Klitschko, Fury, Parker, Takam &#38; Joshua

Klitschko, Fury, Parker, Takam & Joshua