BOXING
We have a Samoan World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. Joseph Parker beats Ruiz for WBO Title in New Zealand
The Samoan saying, "E pa u se toa ae tula'i se toa", A warrior will fall only to be replaced by another warrior, is the backdrop for this amazing feat by Samoan fighter Joseph Parker who last night outlasted a very tough opponent in Mexican Andy Ruiz to win the World Boxing Organizations Heavyweight title. The fight held in Auckland. New Zealand was the culmination of a journey by young Joseph which Le Malae has followed since he fought on the undercard of another Samoan challenger for the title Alex Leapai who lost to an aging champion Wladimir Klitschko in Germany. Joseph caught the eye of many fight analysts in his steady rise to the top....or as close to it as any Samoan fighter has come.
Samoan fighters have been knocking on the door of the world championship for a long time. In the 1990s David Tua led the way with his devastating left hook. Many thought he would ascend to the title when he fought for the title against Lennox Lewis but Lennox knew his best chance against Tuaman was to stay away from the left hook and jabbed his way to a victory. In following years other Samoan fighters who were close were Jimmy Thunder Peau and Alex Leapai. However they were not able to close the deal.
The common thread that connects all these fighters was their punching power. David Tua's punching power was considered tops during his time in the limelight. Jimmy Thunder lived up to his name with lightning fast delivery of a thunderous right hand he delivered one the fastest knockouts ever recorded. Alex Leapai was also one of the hardest hitting fighters coming out of Australia. But they seemed to rely solely on their power punching and the result was failure to secure the title.
Joseph Parker may have ascended the title with the least punching power of all these Samoan fighters, but his ring generalship, handspeed and his defense combined with decent punching power seem to be the right combination to win the title. Joseph Parker is also only 24 years old. So time is on his side.
Samoan fighters have been knocking on the door of the world championship for a long time. In the 1990s David Tua led the way with his devastating left hook. Many thought he would ascend to the title when he fought for the title against Lennox Lewis but Lennox knew his best chance against Tuaman was to stay away from the left hook and jabbed his way to a victory. In following years other Samoan fighters who were close were Jimmy Thunder Peau and Alex Leapai. However they were not able to close the deal.
The common thread that connects all these fighters was their punching power. David Tua's punching power was considered tops during his time in the limelight. Jimmy Thunder lived up to his name with lightning fast delivery of a thunderous right hand he delivered one the fastest knockouts ever recorded. Alex Leapai was also one of the hardest hitting fighters coming out of Australia. But they seemed to rely solely on their power punching and the result was failure to secure the title.
Joseph Parker may have ascended the title with the least punching power of all these Samoan fighters, but his ring generalship, handspeed and his defense combined with decent punching power seem to be the right combination to win the title. Joseph Parker is also only 24 years old. So time is on his side.
