By Duncan Johnstone
Trainer Kevin Barry is challenging Joseph Parker to produce the most calculated performance of his young but exciting professional boxing career to overcome his next challenge.
The 22-year-old faces heavy-hitting Brazilian Irineu Beato Costa Junior in the feature bout of the Fight For Life extravaganza in Hamilton on December 6.
Costa's dangers are obvious - he has 13 knockouts in his 15 victories and 11 of them have come in the first two rounds.
But he also has a bit of durability to him - he comes to New Zealand off the only loss of his career, a unanimous decision against Christian Hammer, the WBO's European champion and world No 6, in Germany in October.
"I want everything to be very calculated. It has to be," Barry said.
"This guy is a heavy hitter. Joseph can't afford a lapse of concentration or a rush of blood to the head with this guy. It will come down to Joseph being patient and focussed."
Costa has a slight height advantage and will come with more weight than Parker.
Barry is adamant Parker has attributes to counter that.
"Joe needs to use his superior hand speed and better boxing skills. That will cancel out this guy's power and size advantages."
Parker and Barry are working on a fight plan in the final days of their training camp in Las Vegas. They arrive in New Zealand later this week to taper off for the fight.
Much of their strategy will be about Parker fighting off angles to avoid being a square target to Costa.
Barry said the recent decision to include Izuagbe Ugonoh, the Polish-Nigerian, in his stable had proven invaluable in terms of preparation for this fight.
Taking it on at late notice, Ugonoh had provided an ideal sparring partner with his size and power.
Barry said the latest camp in Vegas had gone well since they returned there following Parker's last win, the unanimous decision over 10 rounds against Bahamas heavyweight Sherman Williams in Auckland in October.
They had worked hard on fitness and general skills while waitng for an opponent to be confirmed. Now it was about details.
Barry admitted Parker had "a few niggles", the result of a busy schedule. This will be his fifth fight in eight months.
"After having six months off with that cut to his eye we set ourselves a very aggressive schedule and we've managed to do it," Barry said.
