Joseph Parker talks ‘important’ Tyson Fury sparring sessions as he gears up for Wilder fight
It often seems an impossible task to get the really big names in heavyweight boxing to fight each other, but at least two of them are on the same bill tonight in Riyadh… although not in the same bout – obviously – that would be a Christmas miracle!
Nevertheless, it’s a power line up: Anthony Joshua takes on the leftie Swede Otto Wallin, while his reported/planned next opponent, Deontay Wilder – also a former World Champion – takes on another former world champion Joseph Parker.
It’s a bumper boxing bill at the Kingdom Arena – just a day after Manchester City claimed the Club World Championship in the same Saudi city.
The Saudis putting themselves right in the centre of world sport is no longer surprising despite their controversial human rights record.
Joseph Parker
Parker, who will walk away with the biggest pay cheque of his career later, says it didn’t occur to him to question fighting there.
“I didn’t know about any of that stuff, maybe I should have,” he says.
“But as a fighter, when you’re given the opportunity – and sometimes you don’t get the opportunity for a long, long time – for your family, I think all fighters will say they take all opportunities that come their way.
“So for me, it’s just about fighting and going home to my family safe and sound.”
The 31-year-old kiwi has had to adjust his day to prepare for a ring walk in the early hours of the morning to accommodate world TV.
I caught up with him after a 1pm breakfast, and he says his great friend and occasional sparring partner Tyson Fury has helped him get ready for this fight.
Having fought Wilder three times, earning a draw and two wins, no one knows the American better than Fury.
“It was very important to fly to England and meet up with Tyson, a man who’s beaten him twice,” Parker tells me.
“He’s the most knowledgeable about Wilder and what he represents.
“He’s always been helpful with my career and taken time to give advice, so it’s been very important we did that.”
He said it’s not only Fury’s advice that’s helped him prepare, but also throwing a few punches in some sparring sessions.
“Obviously he’s the champion of the world and he gave me the best workout I’ve ever gotten,” Parker explains.
“I’m not 6ft 9 like Tyson and I don’t have the longest reach, but the strengths I do have, I’m going to use to my advantage.
“He gave me great tips and we speak on a daily basis and he continues to give me more here and there. He tells us what he’s thinking.”
Parker is the underdog against huge punching Wilder, although he’s widely considered the better boxer technically.
Parker beat Jack Massey on points in January at the AO Arena in Manchester
His main challenge will be to try to get through 12 rounds without getting caught by Wilder’s infamous right hand, which has ended 42 of his 46 fights.
“If you go into the fight worrying about the right hand and worrying about being caught, your focus is on what he is doing,” Parker says.
“We have a plan – things we’ve been working on. I’m going to focus on what I’m gonna do and that’s go in with supreme confidence.
“I’m going to have good movement, good speed and I’m going to be punching with deliberate placement. If you tick those boxes, you’ll be fine.”
Tonight will be Parker’s fourth fight of the year and only the Bronze Bomber’s second in two years.
Parker says he believes “ring rust” is a factor and this could also be to his advantage.
With AJ saying it will probably be the end of the road for his career if he loses in Riyadh tonight, the level of pressure for Parker feels very different.
Irrespective of the outcome, he’ll get a plane home on Christmas Eve and arrive back in New Zealand on Boxing Day to be with his four little girls and pregnant wife considerably richer, and satisfied he did everything he could to beat the odds.
Pakistan has launched attacks on “multiple targets” across India, according to the media wing of Pakistan’s military.
Pakistan said in a statement that retaliatory attacks are underway in response to what it called “continuous provocation” by India, which fired missiles at three air bases inside Pakistan.
“Multiple targets in this operation are being engaged all across India,” the statement from Pakistan Armed Forces (PAF) said.
Pakistan’s military said it used medium-range Fateh missiles to strike more than 25 military sites, including airbases and weapons depots in the Indian states of Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan, as well as locations in India-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan’s military posted footage on X showing missiles being fired from what appeared to be a mobile launcher.
Pic: MilitaryPakISPR
The AP news agency also said loud explosions have been heard in India-administered Kashmir, in the disputed region’s two big cities of Srinagar and Jammu, and the garrison town of Udhampur.
Meanwhile, an Indian military source told Reuters that India has launched air operations in Pakistan, although no further details were given.
The operations mark the latest escalation in a conflict between the two nuclear-armed rivals, triggered by a deadly attack last month in India-administered Kashmir.
Most of the 26 civilians killed were Hindu Indian tourists. India blames Pakistan for backing the assault, an accusation Islamabad rejects.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called a meeting of the National Command Authority, the body which takes security decisions, including those related to the country’s nuclear arsenal.
State-run Pakistan television said three air bases were struck by India on Friday, although Pakistan insisted most of the missiles had been intercepted.
Despite the military offensive, PAF also posted a message on X in what appeared to represent an opportunity to de-escalate the situation.
“Now that a response has been given we hope the neighbour [India] will move to dialogue and diplomacy like Civilized Nations,” it said.
In recent days, both countries have launched a series of missile and drone strikes, although the scale and impact have been consistently questioned by each other.
On Wednesday, India conducted airstrikes on several sites in Pakistani territory. Pakistan said it shot down five Indian fighter jets.
On Thursday, India claimed to have repelled drone and missile attacks at military targets in more than a dozen cities and towns, including Jammu in India-administered Kashmir. Meanwhile, India claimed it struck Pakistan’s air defence systems and radars close to the city of Lahore.
A damaged house in Jammu, in Indian-administered Kashmir, after a Pakistani drone attack. Pic: AP
The Indian army said on Friday that Pakistan fired about 300 to 400 drones, targeting military installations along the western borders – a claim strongly denied by Pakistan.
The G7 group of advanced economies, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and Britain, urged maximum restraint from both India and Pakistan.
“We call for immediate de-escalation and encourage both countries to engage in direct dialogue towards a peaceful outcome,” a statement issued on Friday said.
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World
European leaders to meet in Ukraine for ‘coalition of the willing’ talks – and issue call to Russia
Sir Keir Starmer will join other European leaders in Kyiv on Saturday for talks on the “coalition of the willing”.
The prime minister is attending the event alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, recently-elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
It will be the first time the leaders of the four countries will travel to Ukraine at the same time – on board a train to Kyiv – with their meeting hosted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Follow latest updates on the Ukraine war
Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz travelling in the saloon car of a special train to Kiev. Pic: Reuters
Military officers from around 30 countries have been involved in drawing up plans for the coalition, which would provide a peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire being agreed between Russia and Ukraine.
Ahead of the meeting on Saturday, Sir Keir, Mr Macron, Mr Tusk and Mr Merz released a joint statement voicing support for Ukraine and calling on Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire.
Sir Keir and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in March. Pic: AP
“We reiterate our backing for President Trump’s calls for a peace deal and call on Russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace,” they said.
“Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.”
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Putin’s Victory Day parade explained
The leaders said they were “ready to support peace talks as soon as possible”.
But they warned that they would continue to “ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine” until Moscow agrees to a lasting ceasefire.
“We are clear the bloodshed must end, Russia must stop its illegal invasion, and Ukraine must be able to prosper as a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders for generations to come,” their statement added.
“We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine.”
Read more:
Russia’s VE Day parade felt like celebration of war
Michael Clarke Q&A on Ukraine war
Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of breaching ceasefire
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The European leaders are set to visit the Maidan, a central square in Ukraine’s capital where flags represent those who died in the war.
They are also expected to host a virtual meeting for other leaders in the “coalition of the willing” to update them on progress towards a peacekeeping force.
This force “would help regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces after any peace deal and strengthen confidence in any future peace”, according to Number 10.
World
Ten explosions near international airport in India-administered part of Kashmir, officials say
Ten explosions have been heard near Srinagar International Airport in India-administered parts of Kashmir, officials have told Reuters news agency.
The blasts followed blackouts caused by multiple projectiles, which were seen in the sky above the city of Jammu earlier on Friday.
Explosions were also heard in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, in the neighbouring Punjab state, according to Reuters.
An Indian military official told the agency that “drones have been sighted” and “they are being engaged”.
It comes as tensions between India and Pakistan across the line of control around the region of Kashmir have boiled over this week, leading to fears of a wider conflict.
On Wednesday morning, India carried out missile strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered parts of the disputed region.
The retaliation came weeks after 26 people, mainly Indian tourists, were shot dead by gunmen in an India-administered part of Kashmir last month.
The government in India said it hit nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites, while Pakistan said it was not involved in the April attack and the sites were not militant bases.
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Explained: India-Pakistan conflict
Around 48 people have been killed since Wednesday, according to casualty estimates on both sides – which have not been independently verified.
India also suspended its top cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, as a result of rising tensions, while the Pakistan Super League moved the remainder of its season to the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a conference on Friday that the US is in constant contact with both India and Pakistan.
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