CONNOR PARKER JOKED that he might attempt to carry out an impression of Vasyl Lomachenko when he steps in the ring with Sam Maxwell at Arena, Birmingham on November 30, with Maxwell's WBO European super lightweight title at stake.
 
Maxwell, famously, twice fought the great Ukrainian during his amateur days representing Team GB and gave a good account of himself, but ultimately failed to defeat the now pound-for-pound great.
 
The 24-year-old Parker from Derbyshire and the 31-year-old Scouser share an identical professional record of 12-0, but the East Midlands man accepts it is advantage Maxwell in terms of amateur experience, KOs recorded and being tested over ten rounds as Maxwell was by Sabri Sediri in a helter-skelter battle in March.
 
For Parker this is opportunity knocking in the Second City and he was happy to place his original fight plans on hold when he got wind of a title tilt.
 
"I was sat at home when I found out," said the southpaw. "My dad told me about it then I had to hang on and wait for confirmation. I was so hoping I would get this shot, I had another fight scheduled for a couple of days after, but now I can't wait for this one.
 
"It is a massive opportunity and I think I am ready for fights like this. Our records are similar and the only difference is Sam has got more knockouts than me. Record-wise that is the only thing and he has had a tough fight over ten rounds.
 
"The footage of his fights is all there to see right from his amateur days. He has been around for years, hasn't he, and there is plenty to pick up on what he does. I might look at the Lomachenko tapes and do an impression of him!"
 
Parker has just a single stoppage on his ledger but he insists this is a misleading statistic that is down to the limited ambition of the opponents put in front of him. He is happy to back himself in the trading of bombs.
 
"I've boxed my fair share of journeymen and then won a Midlands title in my eighth fight. I beat Kevin Hooper for the Midlands and it was a good win that was because he has been English champion. Since then I have just been keeping busy.
 
"I've won the Midlands and I've got to prove myself against better opponents now. Hooper was the first one to really hit me back and I enjoyed it more because he was not just there to survive and, if anything, I felt more comfortable in there. I liked it.
 
"This show is as much as I could have asked for because, at the minute, not many people know who I am, but after this fight they will know and I can't wait. If I win this fight it will just get bigger and bigger," added Parker, who does not underestimate the magnitude of the task in front of him.
 
"I think Sam is a good, technical boxer with a strong back hand. You can tell he is schooled well. I sort of take something from the way Sabri Sediri got to him but it could have just been and off-night and we need to prepare for the best Sam possible and that is what we will be doing.
 
"True, he got put down two or three times and you do take confidence from it, but I am preparing for a hard fight. My record doesn't suggest it, but I can punch."

Star Boxing is pleased to announce the signing of WILLIAM "BABY FACE" SILVA (27-2 15KO's), who will be closing out 2019 with a bang when he faces undefeated California-born, ARNOLD BARBOZA JR (22-0 9KO's) at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on November 30, to be featured on ESPN.
 
Hailing from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Silva has had an impressive amateur and professional career. Over his 29 professional bouts, the super lightweight has held titles such as the IBO Intercontinental Lightweight Championship, WBO Latino Welterweight and Lightweight Championship, NBA Lightweight Championship and is the current ABF Continental Americas Champion.
 
Silva began his boxing career well before his professional debut in 2006. At the age of 7, Silva's father brought him to a local boxing gym and he never looked back. "My father was a boxer" said Silva, "he fought, as did my brothers." Silva's brother, Michele Silva is a professional boxer, fighting out of Brazil. As an amateur, Silva represented his home country as a member of the Brazil Olympic training team. He boasted a stellar amateur record of 135-5.
 
Campaigning most of his career at lightweight, Silva has had great success since moving from his native Brazil, making Florida his home away from home. Fighting prospects such as Felix Verdejo and Teofimo Lopez, Silva never hides from a challenge. In his last two bouts, Silva steamrolled Joe Forero, dominating the entire fight, ending with a 9th round TKO earning the ABF Continental America's Title. In February it was more of the same for Silva, as he dominated a 10-round unanimous decision over the tough Juan Ramon Solis (then 25-13 9KO's). (100-90 (x2), 98-91)
 
William Silva said this about signing with Star Boxing, "I am extremely excited and grateful to sign a contract with Star Boxing and feel really motivated to show the world that I belong in World Championship fights. I live and train in Plant City Florida, with a great coach Jose Rodriguez, my manager Jody Caliguire, and our entire team is awesome. I am ready to get back to the top of the rankings. I know I can beat anyone in the world."
 
Silva is preparing to return to the ring in a thriller against top rated undefeated Barboza in an ESPN bout from the majestic Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on November 30.  Having last fought in February of 2019, Silva is chomping at the bit to get back into the ring.
 
Manager JODY CALIGUIRE had this to say about Silva signing with Star Boxing, "Team Silva is very happy to have signed promotional contract with Star Boxing. We look forward to competing on great events and having the opportunity to compete soon for a world title. At 27-2, with 15 KO'S, Silva is a proven excellent boxer. We want a world title shot in the near future. Silva, now lives and trains in Florida, and we have the team in place to insure each time he walks in the ring he will be ready to win and convincingly. This man is a true professional and great boxer. Thank you to Joe DeGuardia for allowing us to be part of your great team."
 
CEO JOE DEGUARDIA said this about signing Silva, "Silva is a very talented fighter who we are very excited to work with. We believe that with the team we have in place, the sky is the limit for Silva, and we are looking forward to closing out 2019 with a great fight in Las Vegas on ESPN!"

Fast-rising light-heavyweight Dan Azeez has the chance to add the English title to his collection on December 14.

The popular south Londoner (10-0, 7 KOs) takes on Newcastle’s Lawrence Osueke (9-0-1, 1 KO) on the undercard of the #GoldenContract light-heavyweight quarter-finals at the Brentwood Centre in Essex.
 
As he prepares to try and build on his impressive Southern Area title stoppage win over Charlie Duffield, Azeez is raring to go.
 
Azeez said: “I’m delighted with this news. The aim is always just to keep climbing the ladder and this is just the next stop on my journey.
 
“I actually remember Lawrence from the amateur days and he was one of the top boys back then so I hold him in high regard.
 
“I hope to contest even bigger titles in 2020 but I’ve always said it’ll be one thing at a time so right now, all I have in my sights is Mr Osueke.”
 
Azeez vs. Osueke will also serve as the reserve fight for the Golden Contract tournament, which already stars Hosea Burton, Steven Ward, Liam Conroy, Serge Michel, Lenin Castillo, Bob Ajisafe and Ricards Bolotniks.