Unbeaten New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker has wasted little time lining up another naturalised Australian veteran fighter as his next opponent.
Parker will fight 45-year-old Kali Meehan in Auckland on October 15 in a scheduled 12-round affair where the 23-year-old will chase a 16th win.
The slick-moving Parker has won 13 times by knockout, including his 53-second demolition of Tongan-born Australian Bowie Tupou in Invercargill on Saturday, underlining the increased power in his punches.
Former Australian champion Meehan has won 42 of his 47 fights dating back to 1997 but has fought only once in the last 14 months - notching a unanimous decision victory over Shane Cameron in November which sent the versatile Kiwi into retirement.
Parker's promoter Dean Lonergan says Auckland-born and raised Meehan is a worthy opponent as the young Kiwi seeks to improve his rankings in the World Boxing Association (10th) and World Boxing Organisation (eighth).
"Initially I thought Kali offered nothing because of massive expectations on the size of his purse," Lonergan said.
"Kali has since adjusted those expectations to make this fight possible.
"Now the New Zealand media and public will be able to judge for themselves how good Joseph Parker is against a known fighter with a history of success."
The highlight of Meehan's career is a disputed split decision loss to American Lamon Brewster in a world title fight in Las Vegas in 2004.
"Win, lose or draw this is going to be my last fight and I want to end my career where it all began in west Auckland," Meehan said.
"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know a young fighter like Joseph will be instructed to tire someone like me out but I'm ready for a war."
AAP understands Meehan has a contract with Sky Sports New Zealand for a fight with former heavyweight contender David Tua and is still keen to pursue that option.
World ranked Australian welterweight Jeff Horn, who stretched his unbeaten professional record to 11-0-1 in Invercargill, will fight on the October 15 undercard.
Share
