Anthony Joshua v Joseph Parker: Joe's mum disappointed she hasn't met AJ yet Joseph Parker's mother Sala is disappointed she hasn't had the opportunity to meet Anthony Joshua. Parker's parents go out of their way to greet his opponents and their entourage when he fights in New Zealand. But there has been no such acknowledgement from the Joshua camp, despite both Sala and dad Dempsey being in the front row of the major press conference and around the official functions. "That was unfortunate that we didn't get to meet him," the ever-gracious Sala told Stuff. READ MORE: * Joshua's power v Parker's durability * Weigh-in shows both fighters trimmed down * Joshua says he knows Parker's weakness * Joseph Parker: AJ is seriously angry * Cheers for Parker, boos for All Blacks * 'Joshua suddenly knows we're real' "I'm looking forward to meeting him before or after the fight if there is an opportunity. ADVERTISEMENT "All of Joseph's opponents who have come to New Zealand, we always like to meet and greet them and let them know they are welcome. We know it is a tough event but at the same time we like people to feel comfortable and that they are welcome in New Zealand. "It's unfortunate that when we go away from New Zealand to fight that it's not the same experience. But we understand that people are not the same, so we take it as it is. "We like to say that it's just a sport and at the same time we are all the same whanau. "He seems like a wonderful man, he seems like a very nice person and I'm looking forward to meeting him in person." When the fight was confirmed in January, Joshua said he prayed he could send Parker back to New Zealand in good health and that Parker's mum shouldn't worry. "I'll put Parker in my prayers that he leaves the ring in good health, and he goes back to New Zealand and his family in good health, so that's the least I can do for his family," he said. Anthony Joshua @anthonyfjoshua R&R #AJBXNG 10:12 PM - Mar 30, 2018 4,910 563 people are talking abo "A mother's love is unconditional so I respect that. But we've both got a job to do and we both want to be victorious, so tell his mum not to worry – I hope he leaves the ring in safe condition." Sala had a giggle when she was reminded of that. "I've spoken to some of Joe's opponents before and that's what they have also said to me. But when they get in the ring they want to hurt him ... so there is a lot of lies going on!" she said laughing. Sala said despite Joseph having the best training camp of his career and expressing extreme confidence, she was still nervous. "It's hard to stay calm and worry-free, I'm still worried," she said. "It's the unexpected ... what's going to happen in the ring? "I know Joseph is ready and everything. I have watched him train for the last week or so. It's a very different Joseph, his training was unbelievable. There were a lot of new skills and techniques. "I feel confident about the fight. I can't wait to see the fight and see the new skills he can execute in the ring. "But at the same time the butterflies are still there. "I know Joseph has got Samoa and New Zealand behind him with all the warriors put together and he has said many times he's not scared of Joshua. "But I worry that anything can happen to him. My worry is that I don't want him to get hurt, I just want him to walk out of that ring safe." Sala, who along with Dempsey, has watched all 24 of Joseph's professional fights and has developed a good understanding of boxing. She puts all her focus on her son and isn't shy to offer advice. "If I see he has dropped his hands, I tell him after the fights, 'this is where you have got to protect yourself, this is where you moved too fast. "He says, 'OK, alright', but I know he is thinking 'what do you know about boxing?" she smiled. Stuff ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY? Save Auckland's cats, please join ma... Council want to label non microchip... Person missing This person is missing. For more inf... Shop Assitant Looking for a shop Assistant to work... Free Cardboard boxes (perfect for m... Hi, we've just moved house and have... Privacy Policy Contact Us Desktop Site © 2018 Stuff Limited Checking your weather

Joseph Parker's mother Sala is
disappointed she hasn't had the
opportunity to meet Anthony Joshua.
Parker's parents go out of their way to
greet his opponents and their entourage
when he fights in New Zealand.
But there has been no such
acknowledgement from the Joshua camp,
despite both Sala and dad Dempsey being
in the front row of the major press
conference and around the official
functions.
"That was unfortunate that we didn't get to
meet him," the ever-gracious Sala told
Stuff.
READ MORE:
* Joshua's power v Parker's durability
* Weigh-in shows both fighters trimmed
down
* Joshua says he knows Parker's weakness
* Joseph Parker: AJ is seriously angry
* Cheers for Parker, boos for All Blacks
* 'Joshua suddenly knows we're real'
"I'm looking forward to meeting him before
or after the fight if there is an opportunity.
ADVERTISEMENT
"All of Joseph's opponents who have come
to New Zealand, we always like to meet
and greet them and let them know they are
welcome. We know it is a tough event but
at the same time we like people to feel
comfortable and that they are welcome in
New Zealand.
"It's unfortunate that when we go away
from New Zealand to fight that it's not the
same experience. But we understand that
people are not the same, so we take it as
it is.
"We like to say that it's just a sport and at
the same time we are all the same
whanau.
"He seems like a wonderful man, he seems
like a very nice person and I'm looking
forward to meeting him in person."
When the fight was confirmed in January,
Joshua said he prayed he could send
Parker back to New Zealand in good health
and that Parker's mum shouldn't worry.
"I'll put Parker in my prayers that he leaves
the ring in good health, and he goes back
to New Zealand and his family in good
health, so that's the least I can do for his
family," he said.
Anthony Joshua
@anthonyfjoshua
R&R #AJBXNG
10:12 PM - Mar 30, 2018
4,910 563 people are talking abo
"A mother's love is unconditional so I
respect that. But we've both got a job to
do and we both want to be victorious, so
tell his mum not to worry – I hope he
leaves the ring in safe condition."
Sala had a giggle when she was reminded
of that.
"I've spoken to some of Joe's opponents
before and that's what they have also said
to me. But when they get in the ring they
want to hurt him ... so there is a lot of lies
going on!" she said laughing.
Sala said despite Joseph having the best
training camp of his career and expressing
extreme confidence, she was still nervous.
"It's hard to stay calm and worry-free, I'm
still worried," she said.
"It's the unexpected ... what's going to
happen in the ring?
"I know Joseph is ready and everything. I
have watched him train for the last week
or so. It's a very different Joseph, his
training was unbelievable. There were a lot
of new skills and techniques.
"I feel confident about the fight. I can't
wait to see the fight and see the new skills
he can execute in the ring.
"But at the same time the butterflies are
still there.
"I know Joseph has got Samoa and New
Zealand behind him with all the warriors
put together and he has said many times
he's not scared of Joshua.
"But I worry that anything can happen to
him. My worry is that I don't want him to
get hurt, I just want him to walk out of
that ring safe."
Sala, who along with Dempsey, has
watched all 24 of Joseph's professional
fights and has developed a good
understanding of boxing.
She puts all her focus on her son and isn't
shy to offer advice.
"If I see he has dropped his hands, I tell
him after the fights, 'this is where you have
got to protect yourself, this is where you
moved too fast.
"He says, 'OK, alright', but I know he is
thinking 'what do you know about boxing?"
she smiled.
Stuff
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YOUR COMMUNITY?
Save Auckland's cats, please join ma...
Council want to label non microchip...
Person missing
This person is missing. For more inf...
Shop Assitant
Looking for a shop Assistant to work...
Free Cardboard boxes (perfect for m...
Hi, we've just moved house and have...
Privacy Policy
Contact Us
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WBO world heavyweight champion Joseph
Parker with his mother Sala and father
Dempsey.