Undefeated heavyweight contender Joseph Parker (14-0, 12 KO’s) will defend his PABA and WBO Oriental heavyweight titles for the sixth time against Japanese heavyweight champion, Kyotaro Fujimoto (12-1, 6 KO’s) on August 1st.
Parker’s promoter, Dean Lonergan confirmed the news.
Not only will Parker enjoy a four-inch height advantage, but the fight will also be in front of his home fans at Stadium Southland in New Zealand.
In his most recent fight, he made quick work of German Boxing Association champion Yakup Saglam, who hails from Turkey.
Saglam’s corner threw in the towel after taking a heap of punishment.
For Fujimoto, the 28-year-old has been boxing professionally for four years — he spent five years as a kickboxer — and held a record of 18-5 with nine knockouts.
Lonergan, speaking with BoxingScene.com, said that he had been trying to get a fight with Fujimoto for a while.
“He’s an ex-K1 kickboxing champion, he’s won the title twice, he is 28, he is in the prime of his life, and he throws leather. It will be an explosive fight,” said Lonergan.
Fujimoto is coming off a split decision victory over Nobuhiro Ishida in a highly-anticipated rematch in Tokyo, where the battle saw Fujimoto win by as close as one point on one scorecard.
In the rematch, it was more of the same, as Fujimoto won on scores of 96-94 and 96-95. However, judge Kazumobu Asao scored the bout 96-95 for Ishida.
If Fujimoto can pull off an upset in enemy territory, don’t be surprised if Ishida wants thirds.
It could be a tall task, though, as the Japanese fighter has never been in the ring with a man that packs an explosive punch the way Parker does.
And as I stated before, this is enemy territory, and he’s going to have to do a little more than out-box him to get the title.
