By Duncan Johnstone
Solomon Haumono believes he has the power to expose the flaws in Joseph Parker's game he witnessed first hand last weekend.
Australian Haumono, a 40-year-old former NRL star with 21 knockout wins to his name since 2000, was confirmed as Parker's next opponent with the fight scheduled for Christchurch's Horncastle Arena on July 21.
Haumono revealed he was in the crowd at the Manukau Events Centre last Saturday night watching Parker beat Carlos Takam by a unanimous points decision to claim the IBF's mandatory position to challenge world champion Anthony Joshua.
"It was a great night that Joseph put on for the fans," Haumono said politely, before adding, "there were many flaws there I believe."
Parker and his trainer Kevin Barry conceded it was a far from perfect performance against Takam. They got the job done and emerged with rich reward, but now there could be no sloppy moments as they awaited their mandatory challenge, risking those rights with every fight.
Haumono, with the usual talk that has come from Parker's 19 victims to date, gave himself a real shot of an upset though admitted few others would.
"Outside of my team, the whole of of New Zealand and those here believe that I'm no chance," Haumono said, addressing a media conference in Auckland on Tuesday to confirm the fight.
"But when has an Aussie ever laid down for a Kiwi?
"I'm here to fight. I believe that I can win. Joseph is at the top of his game but I believe I bring power to the table. No one that he has faced has the power that I bring to the table. It's a good challenge. I look forward to the opportunity."
The two fighters already have history. Last year Parker handed over one of his many belts, the WBA's Pan Asian version, refusing to take Haumono's mandatory challenge as he targeted bigger things.
Haumono went on to beat Argentina's Manuel Alberto Pucheta in unimpressive fashion last month to claim that vacant title.
"I've already got one of his belts. I'm sorry to say, but with one punch I can also take his dream. He's the man that stands in front of my dream," Haumono said.
The promotional hype is highlighting the trans-Tasman nature of this showdown, forgetting that happened less than a year ago when Parker mowed down a fighter with far better credentials than Haumomo, Aussie-based veteran Kali Meehan. The reality is this looks like going the same way.
That the fight is happening is a credit to Haumono's persistence and being in the right place at the right time, with Parker needing to stay tuned ahead of his title tilt and Duco Events eager to develop their Aussie ties as well as finally entertain a Christchurch audience.
Haumono's manager Matt Rose has been hounding Parker's handlers for the last two years and is delighted to see his man finally get this chance.
"Forget the class, at the end of the day Sol has got the power to knock Joseph out," Rose said.
He claimed Haumono had had accepted offers from British heavyweights David Haye and Hughie Fury, but like previous dealings with Team Parker, they had fallen over "at the last hurdle".
"It's not like Sol hasn't wanted top line fighters ... they have all pulled out. And it's all come back to the same reason – Solomon's power. That shows where Solomon is on the world scale and he just hasn't had the opportunity. He's here now and he's going up against Joseph who we think is an unbelievable fighter."
Parker's trainer Barry was eager to highlight the risks but privately knows that if Parker's challenge to Joshua is to be taken seriously, then a statement win must be made in Christchurch.
"Solomon Haumono is a much bigger puncher than Carlos Takam," Barry said, thrilled to be overseeing a Parker fight in his old home city.
"Defensively we had better be on form in this fight because if we have a lapse, everything that we have worked for and everything we have achieved now with Joe as the No 1 ranked fighter with the IBF will be taken away from us.
"So we have a lot of respect for his punching power. Believe me, we won't be taking this lightly. There are no easy fights now. Every time that Joseph Parker steps into the ring, this is our world title fight because if we don't get it right, if we make mistakes, then we have to regroup ... we lose our opportunity to fight for the world tile.
"So there is going to be pressure on Joe. There is a big target on his back every single time he steps into the ring."
