Interviews
EXCLUSIVE: Lauren Parker – Getting out of your comfort zone
Nerves before a fight are part of a fighter’s preparation, it’s normal. Lauren Parker (4-1-1), however, is equally concerned about her media responsibilities.
Asking questions, even about herself, reminded her of being at school when the teacher put you in a tough situation and your mind was blank.
However, for almost an hour, the 29-year-old enthusiastically and extensively told proboxing-fans.com about her path to boxing so far.
It all started, she explained, when a slightly shy 13-year-old girl went to a kickboxing show at a local recreation center.
“The seed was planted when my dad took me with him and I remember seeing these girls and thinking, ‘this is different.’ It looked like fun and I could probably be good [at it].
“But I didn’t pursue anything until I was about 18 and I went to another show and took the bull by the horns and asked one of the girls where they were training, what time they were training, things like that. I dropped in on one of the sessions and really enjoyed it.
“After a few years, one of my friends said, ‘you know, why don’t you try boxing?’ But at the time, I was so in love with kickboxing that it seemed a little intimidating.
“I was taken to Stevenage Boxing Club where I was introduced to Paul Day and I immediately hit it off.
“From day one, I was sparring, getting involved, and over the years everything picked up.”
After developing familial relationships with Paul Day and Paul Webber, Parker loved every second of her amateur boxing – a brief but sweet career spanning 20 fights – but admitted she never considered signing a professional contract.
“I never thought about turning professional until many amateur clubs were considering staying with England Boxing or joining the Boxing Alliance.
“Stevenage was determined to join the Alliance, but that eliminated my competition. One of the guys told me, “We’re entering you in the tournament, but there’s no one else, so you just have to show up and raise your hand.”
“There was talk of the clubs moving and possibly moving to Repton or Hoddesdon, but the need to travel made that a bit unrealistic.”
The options were therefore circumscribed. Parker gave up the sport for some time and took up kickboxing again, but a conversation with Paul Webber tempted her to join the ranks of professional fighters. It’s a decision the 29-year-old has never regretted.
“I was extremely frustrated at the time because it was never part of the plan, but looking at where it took me, I have to be grateful that circumstances pushed me to do it.
“Especially with the current profile of women’s boxing, there couldn’t be a better time to be a professional and I’m really looking forward to the future.”
After two fights in 2018, including a delayed debut against Teodora Hristova, Lauren faced her toughest test in the form of a 3-1 defeat to Dani Hodges.
Hodges won four rounds (39-37), but Paul Day’s players do not believe that this is an correct reflection of the competition.
“This fight was probably one of my best performances… except I didn’t win! I truly believe I won this fight.
“Dani was often ahead, but you only have to look at the photos at the end of the fight to see how it turned out. Dani had been cut, covered in spots and bleeding, and the next day I woke up with a barely evident mark.
“But fair play to her, she’s a good boxer and, you know, after two years I can’t say I’m second-guessing it because that’s how it is in boxing sometimes.”
Fortunately, this blemish on the record isn’t something that’s particularly on Parker’s mind. Now, two years after the defeat, the former Haringey BoxCup champion is keeping an eye on future opportunities.
“I’ve spent so much time since the pandemic started thinking about how much I still have to show, and I actually can’t say I’ve spent too much time thinking about what could have happened. .
“It was a good learning experience [curve] also to show me what some judges prefer to look at, and after the initial period of frustration you can try to take some positives from the experience so that you are not filled with regret.”
Steve Goodwin will be a key figure in creating these future opportunities. Parker initially signed a contract with Mervyn Turner, and after her contract expired, Parker joined Goodwin Boxing, and huge plans are already being made.
“Honestly, I’m very excited because I had a good discussion with Steve. I wanted to sign him considering William [Webber, Paul Webber’s son] is under his banner, which means our little gym sings from the same anthem.
“I feel comfortable that Steve is leading me on the right path and knowing where he wants to take me, and the ideas he brings to the table are really electrifying to me.
“We are looking at a few fights to get me back, but then we want to fight for the titles. Having goals set for myself makes it much easier for me to focus on doing what I need to do.”
Even with the 4-1-1, Lauren Parker has already come a long way from a 13-year-old girl who didn’t have enough confidence to step outside of her comfort zone.
But throughout our conversation, the 29-year-old gave the impression of someone who had only just scratched the surface of what she could achieve.
With Lauren’s career in the safe and sound and reliable hands of Steve Goodwin, Paul Day and Paul Webber, it’s basic to see where her enthusiasm and excitement for the future comes from.
To follow her journey, you can find Lauren on Twitter @LParkerBoxer or Instagram @LaurenParkerBoxer. Lauren is sponsored by; vegan cafe Vutie Beets; JC Parker installations; music producer Mitchell Parker; Look Logos printers and embroiderers and; web designer kelly woodhams.
Written by Oliver McManus.
Daniel Dubois believes that Tyson Fury will return to the ring and claims that a fight between them may happen.
Fury ended hopes of All-British fights against the likes of Dubois and long-time rival Anthony Joshua after retiring last Monday, less than a month after his second successive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
However, “Dynamite” believes that his compatriot will return in a similar mood as when he retired in April 2022, only to return seven months later.
If the “Gypsy King” ends his final retirement, Dubois insists the fight with Joshua must happen, which has opened the door for him to face the winner.
“I think he will definitely come back,” said the 27-year-old talkSPORT.
“He’s always done that throughout his career, mind games and all that.
“So I think he will come back. He plays various characters. He will definitely come back.
“Get them in the ring [Joshua and Fury].
“I want to see them fight now.
“I punched Joshua so he had to fight Fury.
“I want to see what’s left between these two.
“And then maybe I’ll fight the winner.”
The Londoner knocked out “AJ” five rounds in September at Wembley Stadium and on February 22 in Riyad, he will defend the IBF world heavyweight title against Joseph Parker.
Dubois stormed the ring after Usyk’s rematch victory over Fury, calling for a rematch from their August 2023 clash.
The Londoner’s argument for wanting a rematch is based on a controversial low blow in the fifth round of the fight against the Ukrainian, which he believed was a legal shot.
“Usyk, I want to take revenge,” he said.
“Good job tonight.
“I want revenge for the last robbery.
“Let’s sort this out. Let’s go.
Eddie Hearn believes Tyson Fury will retire after a legacy-defining clash with Anthony Joshua.
Fury stunned the boxing world on Monday when he announced his retirement from the sport, leaving behind a megafight with Joshua.
The “Gypsy King” announced his shocking decision less than a month after suffering, among other things, second defeat in a row against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyad, but Joshua’s promoter, Hearn, is convinced that the fighter from Morecambe will return to the ring to fight the long-awaited showdown with “AJ”, who is returning after a fifth-round defeat to Daniel Dubois.
“In my opinion, I think he will come back,” the 45-year-old said talkSPORT.
“But I don’t know him well enough to judge that.
“He’s coming back after two defeats, and these defeats hurt the boys.
“AJ was devastated by the defeat to Dubois and I’m sure Fury was too [with his defeats to Usyk]both are winners.
“I don’t know if Fury can leave one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport on the table.
“I know he’s a competitor. I know he will want to give the British fight fans what they want and I hope we see more of him.
“But if we don’t, God bless the speed and all the best.”
Fury hung up his gloves after defeating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, only to return eight months later for a third fight with Derek Chisora, whom he defeated comfortably at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Hearn said Joshua will now look to secure a clash with the winner of the February 22 fight between his former rivals Dubois and Joseph Parker, who will fight in Riyad for the IBF heavyweight world title.
If Fury returns to fight AJ, the Matchroom boss insists the loser would have nowhere to go.
“They would both be devastated by defeat,” he added.
“It’s one thing to lose the world heavyweight title, but at the same time losing in a fight of this magnitude is the biggest bragging rights.
“At this stage of their career, the last word is goodbye.
“Whoever loses this fight is finished and whoever wins it moves on and that’s what you fight for.
“You’re not just fighting for a legacy, you’re fighting to save your career.
“It’s a huge fight, but it’s not on the table right now.”
Callum Simpson defended his British and Commonwealth super middleweight titles after a second-round victory over Steer Woodall on Saturday at the Park Community Arena in Sheffield.
Simpson (16-0, 11 KO) proved too good for Zak Chelli in his last competition and went on to sweep wide and claim the British and Commonwealth titles last August. Woodall (19-3-1, 12 KO) picked up his best career win, stopping Lerrone Richards in six rounds in an upset in Bolton last June.
This attack ended quickly in the second round, with a right uppercut that left Woodall on wobbly legs, and then another attack punctuated by another right uppercut, leaving “The Stallion” on the deck.
Despite beating the count, referee Mark Bates waved off the fight shortly afterwards.
Simpson dedicated his victory his dead sisterwho died tragically in August in a road accident.
“It’s bittersweet,” the 28-year-old said Heavenly sports after the fight.
“I won these titles in front of all my fans, but there’s one person that I think everyone knows who I wish was here, but I know she’s looking down on me and I make her proud.”
Dubois is tied with Camara
On the card below, Caroline Dubois (10-0-1, 5 KO) made her first defense of her WBC lightweight title against Canadian Jessica Camara (14-4-1, 3 KO), but the fight ended in a technical draw.
The fight was stopped due to a cut to Camara’s left eye from the head collision, and she also went down in the first round.
Forrest stops Miller
Cruiserweight prospect Scott Forrest needed just two rounds to defeat Deevorn Miller.
Miller (8-3, 6 KO) lost once in the first and second rounds, while Forrest (7-0, 4 KO) won outright.
Undercard remaining
In the featherlight heavyweight division, where Billy Deniz defeated Mickey Ellison (15-8, 5 KO) by one point.
Deniz (13-0, 5 KO) won with a score of 77-76.
In the six-round middleweight division, Sam Hickey (2-0, 1 KO) stopped Lewis Howells (3-2) three times en route to a first-round victory, and Mauro Silva (7-0, 3 KO) scored a 59-56 victory against Emmanuel Zion (6-3, 3 KOs).
Ellis Price (2-0, 1 KO) stopped Liam Fitzmaurice (0-1) twice en route to a first-round lightweight victory.
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