It will be the continuation of the 22-year-old's education in this cut-throat business, one that will increase in terms of its tempo and difficulty over the next year as he seeks a world title fight within 18 months.
Parker's next bout is likely to be in America next month, possibly in Pennsylvania, New York or Atlantic City, as his handlers Duco get set to raise his profile Stateside.
"We're going to put the foot to the floor in terms of his career," Duco Events' David Higgins said yesterday. "We started out fighting maybe four times a year. There was an injury setback with the cut [suffered against Afa Tatufu in Auckland last year], but you can expect to see Joseph fighting much more often.
"We've studied the records of some of the greats like George Foreman, Wladimir Klitschko, Mike Tyson and Mohammed Ali, and you will note during the first stages of their careers, the first two or three years, some of them are fighting eight to 12 times a year. Joseph has made the comment that there is no better learning experience than the fight itself -- you can spar all you want but it isn't the same as fighting. He's keen to fight more often."
Although Parker and his promoters are keen to build his marketability abroad, there is also a wish to maintain his links with New Zealand. Higgins believes the South Aucklander will fight in New Zealand again in October before heading overseas once more.
"We're targeting markets in Asia, Australia and the US, primarily," Higgins said. "If he beats Minto then he will go into the top 10 or close to it and all sorts of opportunities will open up. I think he'll get a title shot within 18 months."
The normally reserved Parker has been determined to set the agenda in the build-up to this fight. He has held an open sparring session for the first time and he has threatened in a press conference to "hurt" Minto, another first. There is a sense that he is entering into the "showbiz" element of the fight game as he prepares to take his career to the next level.
Parker has a weight, height and reach advantage over Minto, but the 39-year-old has a lot more experience, and that ability to reach deep into a bag of tricks -- not all of them above board -- could pose problems.
Minto has talked about the possibility of Parker still having problems with his perforated eardrum, an injury suffered in his last victory over Marcelo Nascimento. It has been denied by the Kiwi.
A bigger concern for Parker's camp will be Minto's tendency to lead with his head and elbows. A head or elbow clash in his last fight against Shane Cameron, which opened up a big cut above the New Zealander's left eye, paved the way for his victory, although he was also ahead on points.
For Parker to increase his chances of success, he must keep Minto away with his jab. Despite shedding six kilograms since his last fight against Nascimento in Germany in April, Parker does not appear to have lost any of his power.
"For a mobile fighter like Brian Minto it was important for me after the fight in Germany to reduce Joseph's weight," trainer Kevin Barry said. "He did a lot more road work, plyometrics and explosive movement in the build-up to this fight."
A cool Parker said at yesterday's weigh-in: "I'm just ready to go. I'm calm, I'm relaxed, I've done all the hard work in the training camp with Kevin."
- By Patrick McKendry of APNZ
