An unexpected challenge awaits New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker following the late withdrawal of his opponent for the second time ahead of his first major international appearance in Germany on Monday.
Having already adjusted his approach following the unavailability of undefeated Ukranian prospect Andriy Rudenko, Parker now faces more disruption after the withdrawal of Sherman 'The Tank' Williams due to a contractual issue.
Williams has refused to fight Parker after being thrown out of Wladimir Klitschko's training camp and is breaching his contract refusing to fight.
He has flown back home to Florida, with Klitschko's K2 now demanding boxing authorities slap the West Indian with a six month ban.
It left Parker's promoters no choice but to find a new opponent, with six-foot-five-inch tall Brazilian Marcelo Luiz Nascimento stepping up to fight the New Zealander.
The hard hitting 33-year-old Nascimento, who goes by the nickname 'The Hammer', terrorized the heavyweight division in his native Brazil, stopping the first 13 opponents of his heavyweight career inside the distance.
Nascimento may have taken the fight at short notice but with a significant height advantage and 50 more rounds of experience under his belt he will fancy his chances against the 7-0 (6 KOs) Aucklander.
