SAMOA – La’auli Lupesoliai Joseph Parker’s local fans are confident that he will beat the Ukrainian boxer Alexander Dimitrenko when they meet in the ring in Auckland in October.

Parker who beat Solomon Haumono by knockout in the fourth round has one month to relax before the intense preparation needed to meet the Ukrainian “giant”.

And where best to relax but “home” in Samoa.

New Zealand’s heavyweight contender was visiting Samoa for a couple of days last week. Parker is of Samoan decent, being born in Auckland in 1992.

Parker’s Samoan ancestry roots go back to the Faleula Village on the main island of Upolu Samoa where his mother hails from.

On Saturday night he took part in a boxing spectacle to raise funds for Samoa’s Olympic team.

During the week in Samoa, he was out and about to meet and greet the public and his many fans in Apia.

From the elderly to babies, they stood in line waiting for their turn to have their picture taken with Parker.

Pepe Sua, 79-years-old, was probably the oldest fan who turned up to meet the boxer.

She is confident Parker will win fight with Dimitrenko, and has called on the country’s prayers of support of Parker’s campaign towards the world title.

She said she saw Parker’s fight last week with Solomon Haumono and she believes Parker has the speed and skill to win his next fight.

Pepe acknowledged Parker’s contribution in promoting Samoa worldwide, wished him well and also threw in some motherly advice.

“Aua le loto vaivai, ae e te manumalo pe a e alu i lalo,” she said. “Be courageous and you’ll be victorious if you are humble.”

Parker’s mother Leteleaosa Sala Parker is also confident that her son will deliver.

She compares his fight upcoming fight agai st Dimitrenko to the Biblical story of David and Goliath and said as long as there is faith in God, everything will come easy.

“Due to his strong Christian upbringing, he knows what he is up against,” said Leteleaosa.

She said she never thought her son would become one celebrated person through boxing.

She believes her son’s boxing talent is hereditary from her side of the family.

“My father Poasa Fereti Base and my two brothers Iakopo and Isaako have won medals during their days as boxers,” said Leteleaosa.

Her youngest son, John Parker, is also a boxer and will feature in one of the preliminary bouts in the October fight between Parker and Dimitrenko.

Dimitrenko is a former European Heavyweight Champion and is bigger in size than current IBF World Champion Anthony Joshua who Parker wants to fight for the world title later in the year.

But that championship bout will not happen if he loses to Dimitrenko in Auckland.

- Talamua/PNC