By Duncan Johnstone
Alexander Dimitrenko doesn't believe Joseph Parker beat Carlos Takam and concedes he will probably have to deliver a knockout to secure victory in New Zealand.
The German-based Russian heavyweight takes on Parker in Manukau on October 1.
The 2.01m Dimitrenko fronted media in Auckland on Tuesday and said he stood by his opinion that Parker didn't do enough to gain a unanimous points victory over Frenchman Takam in their IBF eliminator at the same venue last May.
The win, judged by an independent panel, ignited Parker's career, setting him up for a shot at Anthony Joshua's IBF belt.
Dimitrenko, 34, can ruin that script and gain the mandatory rights to fight Joshua if he can beat Parker.
But home town decisions which litter the sport are weighing on his mind.
"If the fight was in France, the fight would have gone to Takam," former European champion Dimitrenko politely said. "There's a Russian saying that if you're paying for the music, you get to choose the music."
Dimitrenko has been something of a knockout artist with 24 of his 38 wins coming via stoppages. Parker's no slouch in that department, with 17 knockouts in his unbeaten run over 20 fights.
Dimitrenko described his height advantage as "a big bonus" and felt he would need that in fighting away from Germany for only the third time in 41 fights.
"But the ring is the same in New Zealand, in Germany and the moon," he smiled. "I'm happy with my preparations. I feel good. I'm looking forward to winning this fight. I have nothing to lose in this fight. The pressure is on him, not me. I'm really relaxed. I enjoy being the underdog."
Dimitrenko has arrived from a training camp in Croatia where he used five sparring partners, including fast-handed amateurs trying to replicate Parker's notorious speed.
Dimitrenko shied away from revealing what he thought Parker's weaknesses were.
"I will not put all those cards on the table now. Joseph Parker has disadvantages just like I do. He is only human, we are all human, he is not perfect. We will go and fight it out.
"He's fast and in the heavyweight division, one punch ... you have to be careful, you have to pay attention for that one punch."
