By Ryan Burton

Former heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker (25-2) returns to the ring Friday in Providence, Rhode Island against Alex Leapai (32-7-4).  The fight will be Parker's first as part of his new three fight deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing.

The entire card will be streamed on DAZN.  WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade defends his title against Maciej Sulecki.

The 27-year-old Parker was originally scheduled to face former title challenger Eric Molina who pulled out of the fight a couple weeks ago.  Parker naturally doesn't like the last minute opponent change but believes that his skills will be too much for Leapai.

“We always knew that we had a fight at the end of June and it’s not good to get a last minute replacement but we know what the goal is and whoever they put in front of us we are going to take care of business. We just adjusted a few things. He’s a little shorter but we are still going to get in there and work on the combinations and execute the plan and hopefully get him out of there,” Parker told krikya360.com last week from his Las Vegas training camp.

There is a natural rivalry between Kiwi's and Australians which adds a little more intensity to the fight.  The fact that both fighters have 100% Samoan blood makes it even more intense.

Parker came close to stopping Dillian Whyte last July when he dropped him in the 12th round and had him close to being out on his feet.  Parker went down twice in the fight himself - once controversially by what appeared to be a headbutt  - and wound up losing a close decision. 

From here on out Parker says that he will be looking to stop all of his opponents.

“Australia versus New Zealand and Samoan versus Samoan. I think he’s going to come out firing. He’s got nothing to lose. He’s got a big overhand right and a big left hook so I think the way the fight goes is that he is going to put pressure on in the beginning. I think his fitness is good but not as good as mine. He is going to put on the best performance he can and I am going to break him down and the goal is to knock him out. The goal from here on out is to get a knockout," Parker explained.

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