Heavyweight champ thinks of Samoa from Las Vegas

By Elizabeth Ah-Hi 25 February 2018, 12:00AM

World boxing champion, Lupesoliai La’auliolemalietoa Joseph Parker may be on the other side of the world preparing for the biggest fight of his career but the son of Samoa always holds our country and her people close to his heart.

Speaking from Las Vegas, U.S.A, yesterday, the champion from Tapatapao and Faleula, said he is looking forward to firstly dealing with Anthony Joshua and then returning home to Samoa. 

 “All my love to Samoa,” he said from Vegas. “Just know that I will represent our country and make us proud. Fa’afetai lava mo le tapuaiga (Thank you for your support). 

“Without the support of Samoa I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. 

“So I just want to say I look forward to seeing everyone in Samoa after the fight because after every fight I come back to Samoa for relaxation time and hang out with family.”

Four weeks away from the fight, Lupesoliai said the training camp is going well.

He is following a strict diet and exercise regime and that means cutting out all his favourite Samoan foods.

“My parents are in Samoa at the moment, they arrived yesterday,” he said. 

“They are staying there for a week spending some time with the family and enjoying our nice weather. So I’m looking forward to coming there and eating some mangoes and – oka, kalo, luao, just everything.”

Back in Las Vegas the Champ has been training hard and trimming down. 

It hasn’t been since David Tua challenged the title in 2000 that we have seen this level of excitement in heavy weight boxing and the daunting task ahead of Lupesoliai does not distract him from his goals.

“Firstly, I feel excited for the fight because it’s a fight I’ve wanted for a long time,” he said. “There are three titles on the line and I’m fighting an undefeated fighter so it’s a big challenge and a big task. It’s a big challenge and it’s going to be one that we’re looking forward to and like I said the belt is an opportunity for me to fight for the two extra belts.”

For Samoa’s Global ambassador, Lupesoliai always has both Samoa and New Zealand at the forefront of his mind. 

The boxer knows that his star and brand power is invaluable to both countries and he intends to use it to showcase them to the world.

“If I win these belts, I’ll get to bring them back to Samoa and New Zealand and celebrate with everyone,” he said. “I’m representing these countries and I’ll try my best and do my best to represent them.

“It’s a great time to get the brand out there and there’s a lot of people in the world who don’t know where Samoa and New Zealand are but with this fight, there’s going to be a lot more people who are going to know where our country is.”

By Elizabeth Ah-Hi 25 February 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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