Joseph Parker Outpoints Sherman Williams In Auckland
Oct 16, 2014 • 6:12 AM ET
By Jake Donovan
Joseph Parker managed to cruise past Sherman Williams in their heavyweight bout Thursday evening at The Trusts Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. That he won the fight was no surprise, but the manner in which he worked to get the win will go a long way towards further lending legitimacy to his promising career.
Scores were 100-90 (twice) and 97-94 in their 10-round headliner, which aired live on Australia Main Event PPV.
The bout was viewed as a measuring stick for Parker, as Williams came in having been stopped just once in just 52 fights spanning 17 years.
As tough as it is to dent the 42-year old Bahamian, it’s become equally struggling for the veteran journeyman to find a way to win. This much was evident throughout the contest, though Parker never took the easy way out. The local favorite boxed early on, finding his range and key opportunities to land his power shots.
The first sign of a lunch pail type of night for the 22-year old Parker came midway through round two. An overhand right landed flush and would have knocked out most of his previous opponents, but did little more than get Williams’ attention. The sequence was enough for Parker to gauge when to go full throttle, and when to simply let boxing rule the day.
Anxious moments for both fighters – and the crowd – came late in round three. Both fighters targeted the body in the round, but Williams appeared to get away with a low blow towards the end. No-nonsense trainer Kevin Barry didn’t take kindly to the tactic, flying into the ring after the bell and jawing at the veteran heavyweight before order was restored.
Parker continued to target the body, a smart move considering his opponent had nearly 35 lb. in weigh on him. The plan worked to an extent, but Williams caught wind and adjusted mid-stream. A series of right hands midway through round six caught the attention of Parker, a stern reminder there was still plenty of fight left in the evening.
It was the closest Williams came to turning the tide, with the success short-lived. Parker quickly regained control of the fight and began to pour it on in the late rounds. The threat of a knockout never surfaced, but Parker looked as fresh in the end as he did at the start of the contest, while Williams sputtered to the finish line.
The only drawback to Parker’s evening was that his five-fight knockout streak comes to an end. The news is trivial in the grand scheme of things, as he officially advances to heavyweight prospect following the well-earned win, as his record improves to 11-0 (9KOs).
Williams falls to 36-14-2 (19KOs), having now lost four of his last seven starts.
UNDERCARD
Reece Papuni scored three knockdowns en route to a 4th round knockout of Sam Rapira in a matchup of unbeaten light heavyweight.
The fight was a considerable step up in class for both fighters, but Papuni showed his worth as he controlled the fight from the opening bell. Rapira struggled to keep up, and then struggled to stay up as he was unable to avoid or absorb right hand power shots.
Papuni scored the bout's first knockdown late in round three. Rapira beat the count, but the ensuing volley nearly had him out only to be saved by the bell.
There was no such luck in the deciding round. Right hands produced two more knockdowns in round four, the second of the two prompting the referee to immediately halt the contest.
The official time was 0:51 of round four.
Papuni improves to 7-0 (5KOs) with the win, his first outside of his hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand, where he had been carefully matched prior to Thursday's bout. The win over Rapira (8-1, 7KOs) makes a good starting point to plead his case as a potential prospect to watch.
Nikolas Charlampous (9-0, 5KOs) preserved his unbeaten record with a decision win over Andrew Robinson (3-2, 2KOs) in their six-round light heavyweight bout. No scores were announced.
Opening the show, Izuaghe Ugonoh (10-0, 8KOs) scored a 2nd round knockout over Junior Maletino Iakopo (2-15-2, 1KO).
Unbeaten super middleweight Joseph Blackbourn (7-0, 7KOs) remains a knockout every time out, extending his perfect KO-to-win streak with a 2nd round stoppage of debutant Mike Junior Kapi. Blackbourn scored the bout's lone knockdown early in round two, courtesy of an overhand right. Kapi beat the count, but was rescued by his corner who requested an immediate stoppage. Time was 0:41 of round two.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
