Joseph Parker will square off against giant Ukrainian Alexander Dimitrenko on October 1.
Dimitrenko, who stands at 2.01 metres, will be the biggest challenge from a height perspective in Parker’s career.
The 12-round bout will take place at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau, the same venue Parker secured a points win over Carlos Takam to secure the IBF No 1 mandatory position in May.
Dimitrenko holds a respectable 38-2 record, with those two losses coming against his only genuine top-class opposition; Kubrat Pulev (23-1) in 2012 and Eddie Chambers (42-5) in 2009. But given the 34-year-old won a unanimous decision over English journeyman Michael Sprott (42-26) in 2009, Parker will be considered in another class.
Dimitrenko is not seen as a power puncher, with only a 60 per cent knockout rate. But with a 9cm height advantage and 18cm reach advantage, Dimitrenko will force Parker to adapt and use different skills to get inside.
“Dimitrenko is a guy who former world champion Shannon Briggs went out of his way to avoid earlier this year because of the risk,” Duco Events promoter Dean Lonergan said.
