Joseph Parker has been on a dominant run lately, but his capability in the division was announced in just his sixth fight.
Joseph Parker followed up his wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang with a knockout victory over Martin Bakole in his last fight, and will likely fight once more before potentially facing the winner of Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois, provided Usyk continues in boxing and the belts don’t scatter.
Parker’s career has seen a resurgence since his loss to Joe Joyce, though he was always a force to be reckoned with, having defeated Andy Ruiz earlier in his career and a heavyweight veteran before that.
Joseph Parker knocked out Frans Botha in two rounds in his sixth fight
In just his sixth fight, 5-0 Parker faced 48-9-3 Frans Botha. Botha was undoubtedly on his way out of the sport and had lost five of his last six fights going into it.
The South African had shared the ring with Evander Holyfield, Wladimir Klitschko, and Michael Moorer, and even drew with Shannon Briggs.
Botha was beaten in 1999 by Mike Tyson via fifth-round knockout and was beaten by Lennox Lewis, who sent him out of the ring in just two rounds in 2000.
Parker, who KO’d the giant Alexander Dimitrenko, one-upped both heavyweight legends, stopping Botha in the second round, seven seconds earlier than Lewis did.
Botha only had one more fight, which he lost, before retiring, and Parker remains the quickest person to knock him out.
Joseph Parker has lost three times, and only to Brits
Parker has lost three times throughout his career, and every loss he’s been given has come by way of an English fighter.
2018 – Anthony Joshua – UD12 (Parker lost his world title)
2018 – Dillian Whyte – UD12
2022 – Joe Joyce – KO11