Joseph Parker faces Simon Kean on the undercard of the Tyson Fury v Francis Ngannou clash from Saudi Arabia this weekend - here's everything you need to know ahead of the bout.
It’s an all-heavyweight card, which should provide plenty of entertaining action, and Parker has become a mainstay of the heavy-hitting division in recent years.
The New Zealander is on the comeback trail after a late stoppage defeat to Joe Joyce last year, and the 31-year-old has returned with victories against Jack Massey and Faiga Opelu.
The Kiwi is a former WBO heavyweight world champion, winning the then-vacant title against Andy Ruiz in 2016.
Defeats to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte followed for Parker, but the South Auckland man is a top-level fighter, and he is the red-hot favourite in Riyadh.
Kean has won 23 of his 24 professional contests, with 22 of those victories coming by stoppage, but the form is highly questionable.
The big-hitting showdown between Parker and Kean will take place on Saturday, October 28, 2023 as part of the all-heavyweight Fury v Ngannou undercard.
The televised card will begin at 19:00 UK time. The 10-round contest between Parker v Kean is expected to get the night’s action underway shortly after the start of the televised action.
The bout will take place in the boxing hotbed of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The newly-built Kingdom Arena will see a crowd of 26,000 boxing fans packed into the home of Al-Hilal FC.
Saudi Arabia is developing an increasing presence when it comes to big-fight nights, and this is expected to be the largest event that has been staged in Riyadh.
The fight will be shown live on TNT Sport Box Office (formally BT Sport). It’s part of the Fury v Ngannou card and will be priced at £21.95 for UK customers.
Parker is a former WBO world champion, but there will be no belts on the line for this clash in Saudi Arabia. The Kiwi will no doubt be looking to get back in world title contention, but the four major straps are locked up in the upcoming clash between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
Kean has held the WBC international silver and NABA heavyweight titles, but this is a major step up in class from anything the Canadian has faced in the past.
32-3 (22 KOs)
Parker is an experienced and durable heavyweight. The 31-year-old has been involved in a series of top-level fights and has shared a ring with Joshua, Dereck Chisora, Ruiz, Hughie Fury, Whyte and Joyce.
The South Auckland man has won 32 of his 35 professional bouts, and he has only been stopped once in his career.
Parker isn’t viewed as a power-packed heavyweight, but the Kiwi has 22 stoppage victories on his card, including a recent knockout win over Opelu.
23-1 (22 KOs)
The Canadian has won 23 of his 24 pro bouts, with the only defeat coming against Dillon Carman in 2018.
Kean has 22 stoppage victories on his card, and while it appears that the 34-year-old carries plenty of power, those knockouts have come in extremely low-level contests.
Kean has only boxed outside of his native Canada on one occasion, and this, without doubt, represents the toughest test of his career in terms of both occasion and quality of opponent.
Tyson Fury v Francis Ngannou | Heavyweight bout |
David Adeleye v Fabio Wardley | Heavyweight bout |
Joseph Parker v Simon Kean | Heavyweight bout |
Martin Bakole v Carlos Takam | Heavyweight bout |
Moses Itauma v Istvan Bernath | Heavyweight bout |
Jack McGann v Alcibiade Duran Galvan | Super-welterweight bout |
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