Boxing: Parker remains unbeaten with TKO

Joseph Parker (L) lands a right hand in his fight with Kali Meehan. Photo: Getty Images
Joseph Parker (L) lands a right hand in his fight with Kali Meehan. Photo: Getty Images

Joseph Parker maintained his unbeaten record and took another step on his path to a world heavyweight title challenge by dispatching Kali Meehan with a technical knock-out in three rounds at The Trusts Arena in Auckland tonight.

The result is Parker's 16th consecutive win and 14th by knock out since 2012 and sets him up to finish the year in style with a Hamilton fight scheduled for December, before a proposed bout in Samoa in the new year.

After commenting during the build-up that his son Willis packed a harder punch than his opponent, the 45-year-old Meehan might feel differently after feeling the brunt of 23-year-old Parker's power and speed.

Parker started confidently, feeling out Meehan before finding his range close to the corner and getting inside to connect with a range of blows.

The second round saw Meehan engage with gusto but the 45-year-old found himself against the ropes before both fighters unloaded with a flurry of punches to ramp up the excitement levels among the sold out crowd.

Meehan showed his renowned ability to absorb punishment and looked to be pacing himself while regaining some ground by trading punches but was visibly troubled by several powerful body shots.

Early in the third, Parker sensed his chance and went in for the kill, knocking Meehan to the floor with a well-timed overhand right before the fight was stopped just after one minute.

BEST WIN OF CAREER

Parker acknowledged Meehan's grit and ability to hang tough after sustaining some ferocious blows to both head and body through the opening two rounds and rated it his strongest personal performance yet.

"Yes, I believe it is [his biggest scalp] at this stage of my career and with the fights that he's had in his career," said Parker.

"I landed some big shots and Kali's a warrior. He came prepared and some of the punches I threw in the first round usually knocks out people and hurts them."

He was confident the result had changed his opponent's opinion of his power..

Despite talk and expectations that Meehan could take him the distance, Parker said he was always confident of completing the job early.

"I'm sure he does [rate his punching power]. I wasn't surprised [at the quick result]. We trained hard for 12 rounds but as [trainer] Kevin's [Barry] telling me all the time after every fight, if you see the opportunity, take it. And the opportunity presented itself and I took it."

Parker started the fight well but his enthusiasm to land the big punch saw him deviate from his plans to remain patient, before Barry reminded him of their strategy following a dynamic first round.

"Joe probably was a little too excited, I had to slow him down and cool him down," said Barry. "I said to him 'come on mate, slow things down, the knock out will come, just get back in behind your jab'".

Parker heeded his mentor's advice and rectified his approach, picking his options and paying more attention to working Meehan's body in the second round to help set up a swift finish.

"That was mentioned to Joe after the first round," said Barry. "It was part of our game plan to go to the body and slow Kali down early and you saw Joe land some vicious body shots in the second round and he did hurt him."

With another fight scheduled for December 5 in Hamilton, and a January bout in Samoa soon to be confirmed, Parker looks set to continue his momentum towards a world title challenge.

"I'm excited for Samoa. But first of all we've got to get through Fight for Life and the next training camp that we have. When we get back to Vegas me and [training partner] Izu [Ugonoh] are going to put in the work and I'll prepare for the next fight."

OTHER RESULTS

Earlier in the night, the action began with Parker's stablemate Izu Ugonoh flooring Ghana's Ibrahim Labaran in the first round, before 20-year-old Willis Meehan, son of Kali, pummelled Leamy Tato to a swift defeat in the second round.

The third bout saw middleweight Gunnar Jackson dominate Daniel Maxwell, before Dave 'Brown Butterbean' Letele stepped up for his rematch with Kaleni Taeteli.

Taeteli was strong throughout the first two rounds but Letele finished strongly in front of his home crowd, with two judges awarding him the win and a third calling it a draw.

The fifth and premier undercard clash saw Australian welterweight Jeff Horn outclass tenacious Argentinian Alfredo Blanco over 10 rounds.

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