Boxing commentators Mike Angove and Colonel Bob Sheridan weigh-in on Joseph Parker's heavyweight loss to British champion Anthony Joshua.
Boxing commentating duo Mike Angove and Colonel Bob Sheridan. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2016 www.photosport.nz
This morning's heavyweight unification bout between Parker and Joshua has sparked outrage over supposed poor referee decisions, apparent poor count of rounds won, and upset to a lot of kiwi and Samoan fans.
No one has called more Joseph Parker fights than commentating duo Mike Angove and Colonel Bob Sheridan and although they were not ringside in Cardiff, thought the result was fair.
"Joseph did get himself into a position at different times to take that fight but he was unable to pull the trigger," says Mike Angove.
"probably lacked a little desperation in the championship rounds through rounds nine to twelve."
"there is a degree of pride in the fact that we had a fighter there who showed he was quite capable of fighting at that top level."
American commentator Colonel Bob Sheridan has not only travelled to New Zealand for Parker's fights, but spends time with him in his Las Vegas home that he shares with coach Kevin Barry.
New Zealand boxer Joseph Parker with boxing commentator Colonel Bob Sheridan. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2017 www.photosport.nz
Sheridan, who has commentated over one thousand professional world title fights says while Parker's defence was great, his offence needs work - and a loss like this can only mean a new and improved Parker.
"If you go back and you take a look at the big heavyweights over the years Joe Frazier, Muhammed Ali fighters like that - they had losses along the way." says Sheridan.
"Joseph's just got to go back and start picking off guys in the top ten, continue to grow and continue to get bigger."
Both commentators agree that at only 26 years old Parker is yet to reach his full potential with boxers typically reaching their career peak in their late twenties to thirties.
"That was his twentyfifth fight, he's defended his title on a couple of occasions all before his thirties." says Angove.
"He certainly belongs in that top tier of the heavyweight division and proved a lot of people wrong in a lot of ways today."
"It's a rebuilding phase now."
- RNZ
