Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

New Zealand boxing fans were delighted to hear last week that Joseph Parker has been ranked the number one contender in the WBO (World Boxing Organisation) heavyweight title race.

As someone who has been involved with New Zealand amateur boxing at club, regional and national level for around thirty years, Sideline Sid decided to ask himself some questions about the authenticity of Joseph Parker's heavyweight credentials.

Is Joseph Parker the second best professional heavyweight boxer in the world - NO he is not. While he is ranked the number one contender by the WBO, he sits between 7 and 11 on the WBA, WBC and IBF rankings. The problem with professional boxing is the myriad of so-called world organizations each with their own champion.

Why are there so many world boxing organizations - they are all ultimately driven by the mighty dollar, charging heavy sanctioning fees, for the multitude of different belts and titles that they dish out. The WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO are the most recognised titles, with the many other so called world boxing body crowns worth as much as tin of baked beans.

Where does Joseph Parker really sit in the world heavyweight rankings - Box Rec who are well regarded with their independent and unbiased rankings, have the kiwi boxer ranked number 11 out of some 1250 heavyweights, which they rank worldwide.

Is Joseph Parker good enough to win a recognised version of the world heavyweight crown - Probably - however in my book he needs to fight and beat someone in the (Box Rec) top twenty to prove his quality. The highest ranking fighter that he has beaten is 45 year old Kali Meehan, who was ranked number 50 when they met last year.

When will Joseph Parker get a title shot - Team Parker need to keep on his steady progress this year, with victory over a top ten fighter likely to propel him onto the big stage. They need to be wary of stepping him up too quickly, as defeat will see him plummet down the rankings.

While New Zealand is a very small fish in the world of professional boxing, we have actually punched above our weight in the heavyweight division over the years. In the 1890's and early twentieth century, Cornishman Bob Fitzsimmons who immigrated to Timaru, won the world middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight titles at various stages of his long career.

In 1928, Gisborne born Tom Heeney unsuccessfully challenged Gene Tunney for the world heavyweight crown at Yankee Stadium in New York. In more recent times Jimmy Thunder and David Tua have fought for world heavyweight titles, while Shane Cameron was world ranked for a period.

Joseph Parker could learn a lesson from Shane Cameron about biting of more than you can chew. Cameron was knocked out by David Tua in the New Zealand version of the "Fight of the Century" and never really cut it on the world heavyweight scene afterwards.