<p>Congratulations to Parker, he got past a very very VERY difficult opponent.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This fight proved a boxer should be developed gradually rather than be just thrown in the deep end against a well rounded and experienced fighter. I would dare say this, if Takam had the knockout power of heavyweights like Joshua or Wilder im convinced Parker would of been knocked out. Parker was gassed from the fifth round and lost his punching power. He edged Takam in the crucial rounds due to Takams lack of activity and essentially allowed himself to take a barrage of hits that you simply can no do against a true banger in this division.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Lets look at the answers we got from the fight in regards to Parker - as he did pass the acid test!<br><br><u>Positives</u></p>
<p> </p>
<p>- Parker has close to if not the best hand speed in the division, an attribute that will steal him rounds if he lives behind that jab</p>
<p>- Parker has huge heart, he was certainly gassed from the fifth round onwards but just dug deep to find the strength to make it to the 12th round .<br>
- Parker fired back under pressure. At many times when Takam was on him loading up, Parker responded blow to blow, to do that showed us when his back is against the wall he doesnt quit, probably the most important attribute a boxer can have. I think Takam took Parker to some dark places in that fight and Parker responded in heart.</p>
<p>- Parker can take a shot, he has a solid chin against the level of fighter Takam represents as a top 10/gate keeper of the division.</p>
<p>- Parker found a 2nd wind to compose himself at the end. This took a ton of grit to discover.</p>
<p>- Parker is only 24 years old and stepped up a long way to fight a battle hardened and very composed Takam. Fights like this can create future champions. This is a fight most fighter would avoid in this division.</p>
<p>- What Parker and his trainer would of learned from this fight is invaluable. They have plenty to work on to make Parker a more complete fighter now.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><u>Negatives</u></p>
<p> </p>
<p>- This was not a highlight reels fight for Parker. Takam was manhandling Parker several times during the fight, it was so bad that if Takam had the power of a Haye, Joshua, Wilder or Ortiz im utterly convince Parker would of been knocked out.</p>
<p>- Parkers defense under pressure was horrid, he would be exposed by higher ranked fighters. He made it to the end of the fight due to Takam not having ko power in his hands and Parker having a decent enough chin. But make no mistake, Parker allowed himself to take to many shots because he was so tired. Against a boxer like Ortiz, Haye, Wilder and AJ this would of been a KO loss.</p>
<p>- Parker was throwing many slap shots with his right hand, most landing with the inside of his glove, thats horrible and amateur level stuff.</p>
<p>- Parker does not have the punching power we though he had. It was missing and dare say while his hand speed is close to the best in the heaveyweight division his power has been overated.</p>
<p>- Parker looked disorganised, as soon as he was gassed, most structure went out the window, and unto a late 2nd wind at the end parker was gettibg by on heart alone and a chin that could take what Takam threw.</p>
<p>- Parker is always open to counters, to being crowded and hustled and his footwork poor.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So how does this stack up heading into the future and a probable fight in November on the undercard for Joshua. Im convinced they are going to put Parker in with Dillian Whyte. They are going to have him replicate what Joshua did before his Martin fight to set up a future pay per view. Below is a unbiased ranking of the heavyweights, bolded are fighters much more dangerous than Takam that Parker would be wise to avoid for a couple of years and simply develop and target an 18month fight against Joshua. There is not to many of them which is great for Parker. Just take the time to develop him now. His defense needs major work and there is simply no need to rush him after surviving that Takam scare.<br><br>
- T. Fury 25-0(18) WBA (Super), WBO, IBO, Ring, Lineal<br>
- W. Klitschko 64-4(53)<br><strong>3. A. Povektin 30-1(22)</strong><br><strong>4. D. Wilder 36-0(35) WBC</strong><br><strong>5. A. Joshua 16-0(16) IBF</strong><br>
- K. Pulev 23-1(12) EBU<br><strong>7. L. Ortiz 25-0(22) WBA (Interim)</strong><br>
- J. Parker 19-0(16)<br><strong>9. D. Haye 28-2(26)</strong><br>
- M. Scott 38-2-1(13)<br>
- J. Duahpas 34-2-1(21) WBC Silver<br>
- E. Teper 15-0(10)<br>
- C. Martin 23-1-1(21)<br>
- V. Glazkov 21-1-1(13)<br>
- D. Breazeale 17-0(15) WBC Americas<br>
- B. Jennings 19-2(10)<br>
- R. Chagaev 34-2-1(21)<br>
- A. Tarver 31-6(22)<br>
- B. Stiverne 25-2-1(21)<br>
- C. Takam 33-3-1(25)<br>
- D. Chisora 25-6(17)<br>
- L. Browne 23-0(20)<br>
- G. Washington 17-0-1(11)<br>
- M. Perez 21-2-1(13)<br>
- A. Spzilika 20-2(15)<br>
- T. Thompson 40-7(27)<br>
- E. Molina 25-3(19) IBF Intercontinental<br>
- J. Miller 16-0-1(14) WBA NABA<br>
- A. Mansour 22-2-1(16)<br>
- R. Helenius 22-1(13)<br>
- A. Ruiz 27-0(18)<br>
- A. Fedosov 28-3(23)<br>
- C. Hammer 19-4(10)<br>
- A. Unistov 33-1(24) WBA International<br>
- H. Fury 20-0(11) WBO Intercontinental<br>
- T. Bryan 16-0(11)<br>
- C. Arreola 36-4-1(31)<br>
- D. Rossy 30-11(14)<br>
- M. Wach 31-2(17)<br>
- S. Briggs 60-6-1(53)</p>








