Former WBO world super middleweight champion Maselino Masoe is training John Parker for his upcoming fight against Fiji cruiserweight champion Alivereti Kauyaca in Hamilton, New Zealand. This bout will be contested for the IBF Pan Pacific cruiserweight title, with the winner earning a chance to enter the top 15 of the IBF rankings.
This fight marks Parker’s debut on the international stage, as well as his first opportunity to compete for a major regional title—something that is rare in New Zealand outside the events typically promoted by Dean Lonergan and Duco Events.
The IBF Pan Pacific title holds great significance in New Zealand’s boxing history, having been claimed by several notable fighters, including Shane Cameron, Jimmy Thunder, Kali Meehan, Maselino Masoe, Sean Sullivan, and more recently, Andrei Mikhailovich.
Parker, recognized as the younger brother of fourth-ranked world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, is determined to carve out his own identity in the boxing world and step out of his brother’s shadow.
Kauyaca has been a prominent figure in Fiji’s boxing scene, performing well domestically and rising in international rankings, even reaching the top 100 on Boxrec.
His journey, however, has not been without controversy. Kauyaca recently defended his title against veteran Joseph Kwadjo, securing a victory by unanimous decision. Despite the win, he was stripped of the national title due to allegations of illegal hand wraps containing cement plaster. Nevertheless, the verdict of the fight stood.
Recently, the decision regarding his title has been reversed, allowing Kauyaca to retain it. He has since relocated to New Zealand and signed a 12-month contract with CTP Boxing Promotions, managed by Craig Thomson.