JOSEPH PARKER is now part of the furniture at Andy Lee’s gym – which is producing top-shelf boxing talent.
Parker joined Lee’s Dublin camp in 2021 – sparking a career turnaround which has seen the pair enjoy eight wins out of nine – with six on the trot.
Lee – an ex-middleweight world champion himself – was coached by late American mastermind Emanuel Steward and British boxing brain Adam Booth.
And the Irishman is fast gaining the reputation as one of boxing’s best trainers – with his pack of fighters ever improving.
Ben Whittaker – dubbed as a “generational talent” by Eddie Hearn – and super-middleweight prospect Hamzah Sheeraz are Lee’s two latest students.
And they have been welcomed with open arms by Parker – now an OG member of Lee’s boxing gym.
He told SunSport: “At the time I joined Andy he had Jason Quigley, Paddy Donovan, and myself, and now the stable has grown.
“And it just shows also that Andy is a good trainer, a great teacher and his career as a trainer and teacher is taking off as well.
“He’s got all these good fighters under him. So it’s nice to see a good man like Andy do very well.”
Donovan, 26, was controversially beaten by Lewis Crocker, 28, in their September IBF welterweight world title fight.
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Sheeraz, 26, is coming off a huge July knockout over New Yorker Edgar Berlanga, 28, with a 168lb title shot expected next year.
And Whittaker, 28, celebrated his big move to promoter Hearn with his Matchroom debut set for November 29.
But firstly, Lee will corner Parker, 33, against Ipswich KO artist Fabio Wardley, 30, next Saturday live on DAZN PPV.
The New Zealander has been made to wait for his mandatory crack at injured Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed titles.
But with Usyk, 38, given an exemption due to a back injury, Parker must go through yet another hurdle in the form of Wardley.
Parker said: “The only thing I can do is fight whoever is in front of me and then the next person is Fabio Wardley.
“Obviously, I want to fight for a championship of the world, I’d be a two-time world champion. I hope the opportunity comes.
“But I just have to keep doing my thing, which is train, stay focused, stay disciplined, win, win, win.”
It marks another battle away from home for road warrior Parker – who has relocated his wife and six kids to Ireland while training to fight Wardley.
But he said: “A lot of the fights have been on the road and I enjoy it.
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“I enjoy having camp elsewhere, in Ireland, setting up there and then traveling all around the world and fighting.
“I think, what a life really, crazy. Very blessed, but it’s hard work. We basically get to experience other parts of the world and fight in other people’s backyards.”
