Former World Boxing Organisation (WBO) super middleweight champion Maselino Masoe is now coaching John Parker in preparation for his fight against Fiji’s cruiserweight champion Alivereti Kauyaca in Hamilton, New Zealand, tonight.
This match is for the IBF (International Boxing Federation) Pan Pacific cruiserweight title, and the winner will earn a chance to enter the top 15 of the IBF rankings.
For Parker, this fight marks his debut on the international stage as well as his first major regional title bout, a significant event in New Zealand beyond the usual events organized by Dean Lonergan and Duco Events.
The IBF Pan Pacific title holds considerable weight in New Zealand boxing history, with notable champions including Shane Cameron, Jimmy Thunder, Kali Meehan, Maselino Masoe, Sean Sullivan, and more recently, Andrei Mikhailovich.
Parker is recognized as the younger brother of Joseph Parker, who currently ranks fourth among world heavyweight champions. He is determined to carve out his own identity and step out of his brother’s shadow.
Kauyaca has established a solid reputation in Fiji, performing well in local competitions and ascending the international rankings, having reached the top 100 on Boxrec.
However, his success has not come without controversy. Kauyaca recently defended his title against veteran Joseph Kwadjo, winning by unanimous decision, but was stripped of the national title due to allegations involving illegal hand wraps containing cement plaster. Despite losing the title, the decision of the match remained unchanged, and it has now been revised, allowing Kauyaca to retain the title.
Following these events, he has relocated to New Zealand and signed a 12-month contract with CTP Boxing Promotions, led by Craig Thomson.