Jospeh Parker’s weekend meeting with Carlos Takam isn’t making huge waves in the boxing fandom, but it’s a good matchup, and will likely be the best Heavyweight scrap of the weekend. With Wilder vs Povetkin surely scrapped for good by now (following Povetkin’s failed doping test) and Haye vs Gjergjaj a plain-old-mutton-dressed-as-lamb-type outing, Parker vs Takam really must be the next best thing.
Set to headline a New Zealand card at the Vodafone Events Center in Manukau City, Parker is the 24-year-old up-and-comer looking to succeed in a solid acid test against veteran contender Takam. The bout is not only tasty on paper, but holds significance since it’s an IBF world title eliminator, meaning one of these guys has a decent shot of facing champ Anthony Joshua next. Neither man has a big reputation in the US (which goes against Showtime’s supposed ‘Joshua opponent prerequisite’), but, well…whatever. It ‘could’ happen.
It’s doubtful that many scribes view Takam (33-2-1, 25 KO) as a future world-beater, but like it or not, he’s actually one of the best Heavyweights around today. The Cameroon-born fighter doesn’t do anything spectacularly, but should have enough in his well-equipped utility belt to ask questions of Parker, the much younger man who really hasn’t been tested too greatly up to this point.
Takam, 8-1-1 in his last ten fights, hasn’t conquered mountains, but has experience against the more superior opposition. Wins over an aging Tony Thompson and the husk of Frans Botha won’t excite anyone, nor will a Draw against failed upstart Mike Perez, but Takam’s KO defeat to Alexander Povetkin (October 2014) reminds us that Takam really can fight, and, definitely shouldn’t be overlooked. Especially against a young kid like Parker who’s used to blasting out guys in the early rounds.
As for Parker (18-0, 16 KO) himself, it’s pretty clear what this Kiwi brings to the table: very potent TNT. While that’s mightily beneficial for any Heavyweight, we’re yet to see if that power can be executed against experienced operators who are mobile, and know how to work angles and keep fighters off-balance. Parker’s biggest scalps include Frans Botha (the husk variety also), blown-up Cruiserweight Brian Minto, Irineu Beato Costa, and Kali Meehan.
Whatever happens at the weekend – be it a major upset or another early knockout for Parker – nobody can say Takam wasn’t the right step up at the right time for Parker.
Fight Time & TV Channel: Parker vs Takam will broadcast Live on Sky Sports 3 (UK) on Saturday, May 21st, with the action set to begin at 11:00am GMT. This may or may not include a slice of undercard action, but I’d guess not.
Parker vs Takam: Extended Tale of the Tape, Facts & Stats
Note: Advantageous stats are indicated in red (some may be subjective), and championship stats refer to ‘fully fledged world titles’ only.
Joseph Parker vs Carlos Takam
Physical/Vital
Birthplace
Auckland, New Zealand … Douala, Cameroon
Age
24 … 35
Height
6’ 4” … 6′ 3″
Reach
76″ … Unobtainable
Stance
Orthodox … Orthodox
Record
Debut
2012 … 2005
Bouts
18 … 36
Wins
18 … 33
Defeats
0 … 2
Draws
0 … 1
No Contests
0 … 0
Knockout Ratio
89% (16) … 69% (25)
1st Round Knockouts
3 … 5
2nd Round Knockouts
5 … 7
3rd Round Knockouts
3 … 6
4th – 6th Round Knockouts
2 … 5
Defeats by Knockout
0 … 1
Knockdowns Suffered
0 … 2
Rounds Boxed
68 … 166
12-Rounders Completed
0 … 1
Current Winning Streak
18 … 3
Undefeated Fighters Defeated
0 … 2
Latest Win
Jason Bergman (TKO 8) … George Arias (UD 8)
World Title Bout Experience
(NA)
Boxing Base Top 10 World Ranking
No.10 … Unranked
Notable Performances
PARKER: Jason Bergman (TKO 8), Kali Meehan (TKO 3), Bowie Tupou (KO 1), Yakup Saglam (TKO 2), Jason Pettaway (KO 4), Irineu Beato Costa (KO 4), Brian Minto (RTD 7), Frans Botha (TKO 2)
TAKAM: George Arias (UD 8), Michael Sprott (KO 5), Alexander Povetkin (LOSS: KO 10), Tony Thompson (UD 12), Mike Perez (Draw), Michael Grant (TKO 8), Frans Botha (TKO 11), Levan Jomardashvili (TKO 3), Roman Kracik (KO 1)
Common Opponents
(TKO 2) … Frans Botha … (TKO 11)
What’s your take on BB’s Parker vs Takam Tale of the Tape, Facts & Stats? How do you see the action playing out at the weekend and does either fighter realistically have any kind of shot at toppling IBF king Anthony Joshua? We’ll have Live Results Coverage at Boxing Base, plus Live Round by Round Coverage via @BoxingBase on Twitter.
