Joseph Parker is approaching his upcoming heavyweight title fight against Daniel Dubois with a fresh perspective. The New Zealand fighter, known for his affable personality, has spent time with his family while preparing for the challenge, finding renewed purpose in his career.
Parker’s ability to balance the serious nature of boxing with humor was evident when he made a parody call-out video for Dillian Whyte, crooning to Take That’s Back for Good. This playful side has become part of his public persona, reinforced by the viral videos he created with his wife and children during lockdown. His family’s surprise arrival in Dublin last month gave him an additional boost as he trained at Ballybrack Boxing Club.
“The toughest part about boxing is saying goodbye to your family and being away in camp,” he admits. “They’re now staying in a separate house, but it’s six minutes away, and I get to see them for two hours every evening. It’s a great boost.”
Parker’s recent performances have earned him confidence ahead of the Dubois fight. With trainer Andy Lee and strength and conditioning coach George Lockhart in his corner, he has evolved significantly since his 2022 loss to Joe Joyce. He has since claimed five consecutive wins, including a dominant performance against Deontay Wilder and a decisive victory over Zhilei Zhang.
Despite Dubois’ impressive streak—stopping Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and Anthony Joshua—Parker remains unfazed. “Even though Daniel’s in good form, I don’t see the threat,” he says. “I know he’s a beast, but I’m extremely confident because of the work I’ve done.”
There is speculation that Dubois might be looking past this fight, already eyeing a potential unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk. Parker sees this as an advantage. “His focus might be split,” he notes.
Dubois’ victory over Joshua surprised many, though Lockhart had predicted it. For this fight, Lockhart believes Parker will stop Dubois within three rounds, while Dubois has made the same prediction against Parker.
Trainer Andy Lee trusts Parker’s ability to outmaneuver Dubois’ power, and Parker himself acknowledges that mental resilience will be key. Dubois has previously been accused of lacking toughness in his losses to Joyce and Usyk, and Parker wonders if he might falter under pressure. “If you haven’t worked on your weaknesses, you can revert to them,” he says.
Originally scheduled to fight Dubois in late 2023, Parker instead faced Wilder when the fight fell through. His victory over the knockout artist was particularly satisfying. “Wilder was a knockout artist who was going to smash me. I was just another opponent for him to look good before fighting Joshua,” Parker recalls. “It was so sweet for myself, Andy, and George.”
Parker is aware of the dangers of boxing after 38 professional fights. “I’ve told my team, ‘If you ever see any signs [of brain damage], I’m out. If my speech goes off track, please tell me.’ I’ve got two more years. When I’m 35, I’m out.”
His close friendship with Tyson Fury has given him insight into the ups and downs of boxing careers. He was surprised by Fury’s recent retirement announcement but remains unsure if it will last. “You never know with Tyson. He’s made lots of money, he’s got a loving family, achieved everything in boxing,” Parker says.
Outside the ring, Parker enjoys life with his wife and five children. He credits his parents, who emigrated from Samoa and worked tirelessly to provide for their family. His father, now almost 65, has worked in the same steel plant for 35 years.
With four daughters and one son, Parker is open to having another child. “One more would balance it out hopefully another boy,” he jokes.
His wife has grown more comfortable watching him fight, knowing he has a solid team around him. “She sees how Andy, George, and I operate, how in sync we are, and it gives her confidence,” he says. “She knows that if I win this fight, it’ll probably be my best achievement.”
This fight, he emphasizes, is different. “Before, it was for my dad, New Zealand, and Samoa. Now it’s for me, my wife, and kids.”
And if he wins? Another lip-sync video might be on the way. “I’d love that,” Parker grins. “We’d need to do something special after I beat Dubois.”
