JOSEPH PARKER has reflected on his time with former trainer Kevin Barry ahead of his IBF heavyweight title challenge against Daniel Dubois this weekend.
Parker, 35-3 (23 KOs), bids to become a two-time world champion on Saturday, over eight years since he won the WBO world title against Andy Ruiz alongside long-time trainer Barry before their eventual split in 2021.
Barry had worked with Parker since the early days of his career guiding him to the win over Ruiz as well as two successful world title defences over Razvan Cojanu and Britain’s Hughie Fury.
Parker then collided with Anthony Joshua in a 2018 unification fight at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium which he lost by unanimous decision, relinquishing his WBO strap. A further loss to Brixton’s Dillian Whyte in an entertaining affair forced Parker out of heavyweight world title conversations.
His final fight with Barry in the corner came soon after where he outpointed fellow Kiwi Junior Fa in Auckland.
After the split Parker began working with Andy Lee, and after consecutive victories over Derek Chisora, the New Zealander suffered a damning KO defeat to Joe Joyce. Since then, however, he has rebuilt with a sensational run, beating Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang on the way to his second world championship opportunity.
Speaking to Boxing News, Parker has looked back at his partnership with his former trainer.
“Me and Kevin achieved a lot together, champion of the world, travelling around the world and beating a lot of fighters so without Kevin I wouldn’t be where I am today.
“He started with my career and helped me from the beginning. We finished our relationship and now I’m with Andy Lee. It (winning a world title) would mean a lot for us as a new team, and I thank Kevin for all the work that we did together in the past.”
