Video by Ryan Burton

Firing up a heavyweight boxer who holds a 20-0 record isn't exactly a wise move when you're about to step into the ring with him.

But that's exactly the method Alexander Dimitrenko has chosen following his home judging favouritism remarks about Joseph Parker's win over Carlos Takam.

Parker isn't usually one to fire up during a pre-fight press conference, but it seems Dimitrenko has pressed the right buttons, which might not be a good thing in the long run for the towering Ukrainian.

"I just find it disrespectful," Parker stated over Dimitrenko's comments suggesting Takam would have claimed the win if the fight wasn't in New Zealand.

"This is my home, this is my home country, and he's come here and disrespected me. I respect every fighter I get in the ring with. If I went to his home country I wouldn't disrespect him.

"You know Takam was a hard fight and I trained real hard for that. I mean it was a close fight but Takam's team and our team knew that we won. For him to come here and disrespect us like that, I don't like it."

Parker said that while Dimitrenko's entitled to his opinion, he was unimpressed with the way the 38-2 boxer went about it.

"He didn't say it to my face, but maybe saying it to the media gives him confidence within himself. Come fight night I'll show him what I don't like."