3 Oct 2011

Parker comes up short against Chinese opponent

1:43 pm on 3 October 2011

The New Zealand super heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker has been knocked out of the World Amateur Championships in Azerbaijan after being soundly beaten by China's Zholei Zhang in the second round.

After a promising opening bout win over Latvia's Nikita Maculevics Parker was predicted to push high into the draw but was no match for the experienced Zhang losing 15-7 on a unanimous points decision.

Parker was outscored in every round by the two metre tall Chinese, leaving middleweight Joseph Blackbourn as the only New Zealander left in the world champs.

Blackbourn's second round match is scheduled for tonight against Mexico's Mercado Cantero Juan Antonio.