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Joseph Parker reveals secret motivation driving him to defeat Daniel Dubois and disrupt boxing's grand plans again
March 31, 2018. Joseph Parker stands alone on the canvas, isolated from the roar and thunder around him. A Samoan flag flutters in the breeze. The star is glassy-eyed and forlorn.
January 13, 2025. Joseph Parker stands on a stage in front of the world's media, unflinching and unflappably cool . Behind his beard, he exudes a determination and confidence.
What a difference seven years or so can make - and come Saturday (February 22 ), one of heavyweight boxing's most quietly impressive returns could be sealed in sensational fashion.
For Parker, a night in Cardiff with the WBA (Super), IBF and WBO titles on the line looked like it could have been the defining chapter of a legacy that had promised more.
Now, over half-a-decade later, he has the chance to change the narrative and set himself up for an undisputed title clash when he challenges for the IBF crown once more.
The New Zealander will provide the co-main event attraction at Riyadh Season's The Last Crescendo when he faces Daniel Dubois live on DAZN Pay-Per-View this weekend.
Victory could lead to the man who holds the other three belts in the division, the unbeaten Oleksandr Usyk - a man who Dubois has already handed out a public challenge to.
Here, in Riyadh, lies a chance for a man who has been written off time and again as a preordained contender for the biggest bouts - and he is ready to disrupt the order again.
"They're planning all these big fights ahead of time, but they're not really focusing on the now and what's in front of them," he tells DAZN . "I'm just an opponent.
"With these fights, they've already planned [them and I'm just someone to come and make someone else look good, so they can have these other big fights planned and locked in.
"It gives me extra motivation. It really does, when things are hard, [For] these guys, I'm just another fighter who's meant to be losing, kicked out of the scene and forgotten about."
'I was done, I was gone'
With his 35-3 record, Parker has long established his credentials as a top-tier heavyweight. Indeed, when he faced Joshua in 2018, he was ranked at number three in the world.
But that defeat, the first in a six-year professional career, brought an end to a two-year reign as WBO champion, a result compounded by a subsequent loss to Dillian Whyte.
With two reverses in the space of four months, it appeared aspirations of unified glory were at the end of the road, especially as Usyk moved up from cruiserweight to dominate.
A steady line of results afterwards seemed to be in the process of rebuilding his reputation, aided by two wins over Derek Chisora - but then a 2022 loss to Joy Joyce iced that too.
"That gets me," he noted. "The reason why, and I don't really talk about it, is that before the fight, I got really ill. After one round of fighting Joe Joyce, I was done, I was gone."
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
That was two-and-a-half years ago. Parker looked a long way down the pecking order. His prospect of another world title shot seemed to be fading with every fight he took.
But then, like dominoes tipped across the globe, there came a shift. The Riyadh Season supercard came into existence. Usyk and Tyson Fury met once, then twice for the belts.
Dubois engineered his own rise from defeat against the Ukrainian to become interim IBF champion. In September last year, he delivered the performance of his life to stop Joshua .
Above all, Parker continued to chip away. He improved his mentality, his regime, his approach to the sport. Big names were placed before him to butter up some stacked bills.
He knocked out Canada's Simon Kean in the third round. He saw off another former world champion in Deontay Wilder on points . He survived being dropped by Zhilei Zhang .
It all served to restore the shine to his profile, to make good on his promise as a man who once sat at the top of the sport with one of its biggest prizes around his waist.
'I love being the underdog'
When Dubois pushed for a February bout and Joshua reportedly demurred on a rematch, Parker beat the drum for himself . He seized on the opportunity - and he got it.
There is no shortage of blockbuster fights littering The Last Crescendo. But few feel quite as freighted as this one when it comes to delivering on a sporting fairytale for one man.
"Things are great," Parker says. "I love what I do. I love training every day, I love preparing to fight, I love being the underedog. I love the challenge and I love that there's purpose.
"The card that I'm involved in, I'm grateful for the opportunity to fight for the championship of the world and be involved in such a mega card. I love these big fights."
For the 33-year-old, it is not only a chance to make history though - but another chance to represent his heritage and culture on the grandest sporting stage of all.
There is no shortage of rich lineage and pride for New Zealand and Samoa, the two places Parker calls home, and both have enjoyed their success in team disciplines.
The former have excelled across a wide variety, including cricket and rugby union, while the latter made history when they reached the 2021 Rugby League World Cup Final.
Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
But as a boxer, there is arguably no bigger son than Parker - and he will be determined to do them proud when he steps out to face Dubois at the Kingdom Arena this time.
"I do take every fight seriously, but this one needs just that bit more of a push," he says. "I'm grapping every opportunity to represent for myself, for New Zealand and Samoa.
"I was born in New Zealand, but I fight for both New Zealand and Samoa. Both of my parents were born in Samoa, my high chief name is from Samoa.
"There's something about it. When you're walking to the ring and hear the national anthems of New Zealand and Samoa, there's pride and strength and energy that comes from it."
While Dubois may already have his eye on Usyk after his public challenge following the latter's second win over Fury, Parker is keeping his feet firmly planted in the here and now.
Regardless of the result however, he is determined to ensure that he makes the most of his time back at the division's hight table - and that he won't take his place for granted.
"I'll strike while the iron is hot," he adds. "You don't know how long all this is going to go on for. If I beat Dubois, I'm straight back.
"One week off with the family, then straight back to the gym to look for what's next. Whether that's Usyk or whether that's a rematch, whoever it is, I'll strike while the iron is hot."
Watch Dubois vs Parker and full Last Crescendo card live on DAZN PPV
Watch Daniel Dubois versus Joseph Parker and the full Last Crescendo fight card, including Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2, live on DAZN Pay-Per-View .
The PPV is available to buy now at £19.99 in UK and $25.99 in US.
Buying the DAZN PPV offers a range of extra benefits. including alternative commentary options with Adam Smith or True Geordie or Showbizz the Adult ; local language commentary; entry to a prize draw for tickets to Chris Eubank Jr. vs Connor Benn* (for UK only); and a seven-day free trial of the full DAZN platform.
Watch the fight night anywhere with DAZN via smart TV's, smartphones, tablets, games consoles, streaming devices and PC's / laptops.
For PPV costs in your country and to buy now, click here .
*UK only. Restrictions apply. See T&Cs on help.dazn.com. Full T&C's here
