Former heavyweight world title contender Kali Meehan accepts it's time to pass the boxing baton to the next generation of his family, claiming his son Willis can easily exceed his fine achievements.
Meehan senior 45, was stopped in the third round by rising world-ranked New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker in Auckland on Thursday.
A couple of hours earlier, Willis 20, improved his professional record to 4-0 with three KOs, with an overwhelming second round stoppage of overmatched 41-year-old Kiwi Leamy Tato.
Each Meehan was in the corner for the other's fight.
Kali said the loss was "pretty much it" for his boxing career, though he still had the option of one more fight on an existing TV contract.
Willis was philosophical about watching his father being punished by Parker.
"It is hard," he said,
"But it was a bit relieving we left nothing undone in the training camp and we're all proud of him."
Although Willis wants to land another NRL gig for next year after his mid-season sacking by the Sydney Roosters for off-field issues, he also wants to keep boxing.
"I don't try and put too much expectations, but he's got so much in him that he could go way past me, easy," Kali Meehan said.
"Plus he's been training since he was four.
"All the professional heavyweights he spars he just has way with them quite easily."
Asked if he had passed the generational baton to his son, Kali said "for sure.
"One Meehan has done as best as he could do and he's the next one, so it's up to him.
"All the mistakes and wrong turns that I've done, I've got to make sure he doesn't do them."
Willis Meehan is due to fight on the Anthony Mundine-Charles Hatley undercard in Melbourne next month.
He has one particular fighter he wants to meet, New Zealander Hemi "The Heat" Ahio, a renowned big puncher with a record of 8-0 and six KOs.
"I want Hemi The Heat while he's still hot," Willis said.
Willis has good mobility, power and skills and weighed in 16 kilos heavier than his father in Auckland, but acknowledged he still has some way to go.
"Like I have in my last three fights I got off the game plan again. I just started throwing wildly," Willis said.
"But I think that's something that will only come with experience."
His dad uttered similar sentiments.
"He's as strong as an ox, but he needs to stick to the game plan a little bit more and not try and go for the kill all the time, but that usually comes with experience," Kali said.
"He knows what he's doing, he's got boxing wisdom beyond his years."
That wisdom extended to offering sage advice to his father between rounds against Parker.
"He told me `don't go to the ropes, don't go to the ropes.' but I kept going to the ropes," Kali said.
Willis was born in Auckland but came to Australia when he was only a couple of years old and has already represented his adopted country at schoolboy level in rugby league.
However, he remains non-committal about his boxing nationality.
"I call New Zealand home, I call Australia home, but my job is a fighter, not to have a flag on my shorts," Willis said.
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