Australian heavyweight boxer Solomon Haumono is being urged to abandon his "Neanderthal style" against IBF No.1 ranked contender Joseph Parker next week in a contest where he concedes he's totally up against it.
The 40-year-old, ranked No.11 by the WBA, will fight the unbeaten 24-year-old New Zealander in Christchurch on July 21, with the winner assured of a mandatory shot at IBF champion Anthony Joshua.
Haumono says it's by far the biggest fight of his career.
The former NRL star has spared no expense, training in the United States and hiring legendary multi-world title winner Manny Pacquiao's conditioning guru, Australian Justin Fortune, as his trainer.
Haumono (24-2-2, 21 KOs) says he admires the will and desire and fight-by-fight progress of Parker (19-0, 16 KOs), who, like him, was born in Auckland.
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"Everyone looks at his speed and his power but you see little things behind the scenes that he's growing as a complete fighter," Haumono told AAP.
"I know I'm totally up against it but I've been working on some things."
Fortune also admitted Haumono would have his work cut out but was impressed by his charge's strength, work ethic, ability to learn quickly and his power.
"He's very, very strong. If he uses it, I believe there's not a lot of fighters out there that can withstand that punching power because it frigging hurts a lot," Fortune said.
He said he had made little changes to Haumono's style.
"Stop that Neanderthal way of fighting where he just comes forward and wants to throw the bombs," Fortune said.
"Because with someone like Joseph you need a game plan and you need to stick to it, otherwise you fall to bits.
"My belief is he's a good heavyweight, so we have our work cut out for us."
Fortune said Haumono had to get inside to hurt the taller Parker.
"If you stand at Parker's range, he'll box the s**t out of us, let's face it," Fortune said.
"If we can get in on Joseph and go to work inside and use Sol's power to the best of his ability, that's on the inside not on the outside."
Haumono is acutely aware he needs to find a way to negate Parker's renowned speed.
"There's some things we're working on to try and nullify that," he said.
