Professional Boxer

Lupesoloai La’auliolemalietoa Joseph Parker, is a New Zealand professional boxer of Samoan heritage.

Growing up in Mangere – as a kid Parker generally impressed with whatever he did. One day it was on the rugby league field, the next it was showcasing his skills playing the piano.

It was no surprise when he took up boxing at the age of 11 – his father was named Dempsey after former heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey. As an amateur, Joe won silver at the Youth Olympics and bronze at the Youth World Championships, he represented New Zealand at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, won the New Zealand amateur heavyweight championship in 2010,and retained this title in 2011. 

Since becoming professional in 2012, Parker has a 27-2 record and in 2016, after defeating Andy Ruiz for the vacant WBO title, he became the first heavyweight boxer from either New Zealand or the Pacific Islands to win a major world championship – which he held until 2018. 

 This is Joseph Parker’s story – Indigenous 100.