Former World Boxing Organisation super middleweight champion Maselino Masoe is preparing John Parker for his upcoming fight against Fiji cruiserweight champion Alivereti Kauyaca in Hamilton, New Zealand, tonight. The bout is for the IBF Pan Pacific cruiserweight title, and the winner will earn a spot in the top 15 of the IBF rankings.
This match marks not only Parker’s debut on the international stage but also his first opportunity to compete for a major regional title, a rarity in New Zealand outside of typical events hosted by Dean Lonergan and Duco Events.
The IBF Pan Pacific title holds significant value in New Zealand boxing history, with many renowned fighters having held it, such as Shane Cameron, Jimmy Thunder, Kali Meehan, Maselino Masoe himself, Sean Sullivan, and more recently, Andrei Mikhailovich.
Parker, who is widely recognized as the younger brother of Joseph Parker, currently ranked fourth in the world heavyweight category, is eager to carve out his own identity in the sport and step out of his brother’s shadow.
Kauyaca has established himself in Fiji, achieving local success and steadily climbing international rankings to break into the top 100 on Boxrec. His recent title defense against veteran Joseph Kwadjo saw him win by unanimous decision; however, he was stripped of his national title amid allegations of using illegal hand wraps containing cement plaster. Despite this, the decision from his fight against Kwadjo stood.
Recently, the situation shifted, and Kauyaca was permitted to retain his title. Since then, he has relocated to New Zealand and signed a 12-month contract with CTP Boxing Promotions, led by Craig Thomson.