Comments Thread For: Joseph Parker Parts Ways With Longtime Head Trainer Kevin Barry

[Dip_Slide]

Parker needs to get with someone with experience and that someone probably won't be in New Zealand. He either needs to go to the US or to England if he wants to make real changes and get better sparring too. If he really decides to stay in New Zealand and hire some cheap yes man as his trainer, this means he's deep into his exit strategy.

[REDEEMER]

Pay for a top trainer to come to NZ. They'd love it and probably never want to leave.

Just look at what Izzy Adesanya has done from training here.

Staying in Aotearoa got Parker a world title. Fighting overseas got him jobbed by mealy mouthed weasels.

Keep it real, keep it local, build for the future of others here in Godzone.

Parker got a favorable decision against Ruiz . Who has he fought overseas ? No ones going to agree to fight at Spark arena if they hold a title . In fact the cards everywhere have been terrible with home town fighters .

It’s not just the trainer it’s the entire atmosphere and having the right guys around .

If he’s serious about his career he goes to a guy like Stacey McKinley who I think is located in Chicago and live a little crudely but that won’t happen . He basically has to go the way Rocky did in Rocky 3 . I remember the Chisora vs Whyte rematch when Chisora went all the way to,Russia to train with Povetkin in harsh camp,it’s why he was a big problem in that fight ,Parker’s lifestyle won’t do him favors.

[sicko]

Good Move! Parker have the Boxing Skills but that Lack of Aggression and Killer Instinct is Holding him back. Maybe another trainer can get it out of him

[b d w]

Parker got a favorable decision against Ruiz . Who has he fought overseas ? No ones going to agree to fight at Spark arena if they hold a title . In fact the cards everywhere have been terrible with home town fighters .

It’s not just the trainer it’s the entire atmosphere and having the right guys around .

If he’s serious about his career he goes to a guy like Stacey McKinley who I think is located in Chicago and live a little crudely but that won’t happen . He basically has to go the way Rocky did in Rocky 3 . I remember the Chisora vs Whyte rematch when Chisora went all the way to,Russia to train with Povetkin in harsh camp,it’s why he was a big problem in that fight ,Parker’s lifestyle won’t do him favors.

I do agree about the comfort zone part. he is talking about training in NZ which means an NZ trainer which means someone not very good. Parker has had it cushy for too long, if he's really serious about winning back titles, rather than just nabbing a payday he needs to go back to beast mode with his training. He won't though.

[Monty Fisto]

Right decision and about time. Parker has gone backwards in the last few years. The right trainer could shift him up near the top of the division. Obviously not ideal being in NZ just from how boxing operates and where the main markets are, but I don't agree with the suggestion he has to shift base to improve. You can train anywhere, but he does need the right trainer -- might need to find someone with the right knowledge who is willing to up sticks themselves. Good luck to him though; seems like a decent chap.

[ShoulderRoll]

I was going to suggest Freddie Roach.

But if he is going to stay in New Zealand then there's no point. He won't get the training he needs there.

[landotter]

Correct me if I am wrong but he got nearly 18 million for the Joshua fight. Add in the money for Takam, Ruiz, Whyte, Fa, hughie & Cojanu he made well over 20 million by the time he was 29. He has a wife & 3 kids. It doesn’t sound like he was an idiot with his money. How much motivation does he really have left? He can still make more money but I think his killer instinct was gone after the Joshua payday. Can’t really fault him for that. He has made a lot of money. He wants to stay closer to home. To me it doesn’t really matter who trains him. I think he will never be able to recapture the drive to get to the top. I think it is all downhill from here. Physically looks & feels great but is he still in it all the way mentally? I don’t think so...

Interesting take. I do not think it is a Muppet News Flash Parker does not look as sharp as he has in the past. He is not stinking the place up, but he is not positioning himself as must watch TV either. I think you may be onto something.

[The D3vil]

I remember when Fury was out after his meltdown, Parker, Wilder, and Joshua were the young lions to carry the division.

And now, he's basically sunk far below just about everybody in the top 10.

Guys like Luis Ortiz, Dillian Whyte, Andy Ruiz Jr., and a 42 year old Povetkin are more respected than him now.

He's got to move to America or at least the U.K. if he's serious about his craft.

If he's just satisfied going a little bit further than David Tua and sitting on his money, then cool

[Enzo Mc is SHIT]

Parker definitely looks like a guy who needs some new ideas and he's young enough for that. Sounds like a good decision all round.

[TinAgeOfBoxing]

Parker has never seemed to have a killer instinct in the ring. A trainer will not help that.