By Blake Foden

Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker is about to learn what it feels like to be hit by 'The Hulk', boxing hall of famer Jeff Fenech says.

Fenech, a former three-weight world champion, will be in Bowie Tupou's corner for the first time on Saturday night when Tupou squares off with Parker in Invercargill.

Tupou had always been blessed with natural power, but he had never been in better physical or mental shape, Fenech said.

Bowie Tupou's trainer, former three-weight world champion boxer Jeff Fenech, at the Kelvin Hotel in Invercargill ahead of Tupou's bout with Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker.

"I haven't followed Bowie's whole career, but I've watched his last few fights and I've seen this guy who was more of a showpiece than a fighter," Fenech said.

"He's a big guy with all this power, but he was just waiting for people to punch him.

 

"If you're built like the Hulk, you've got to fight like the Hulk, and we've ticked all the boxes to make sure he's ready to do that against Joseph tonight."

Fenech said he could not be happier with Tupou's preparation, which included "dominant" sparring with Australia's best heavyweights including Lucas Browne.

"I want him to go out there and be the aggressor. I want him to take Joseph somewhere he hasn't been before.

"If we sit back and let Joseph dictate he will be unbeatable, but if we take him and make him play our game, there isn't a heavyweight out there that can take Bowie's punches."

Fenech, who has trained fighters including former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, again said Tupou's best chance of a win was a knockout inside the first six rounds.

However, Tupou was in condition to go the distance and could win a 12-round bout if he was smart and took his opportunities, he said.

"No disrespect to Mike Tyson, but how many times was he in a situation where the other guy was on top, and he landed a big punch to win the fight," Fenech said.

"One good punch is all it takes and if Bowie lands punches in those early rounds, the fight will be over.

"But the way we've trained, Bowie can go 12 rounds, no problem."

Fenech said he was not concerned to hear that Tupou never watched footage of his opponents in the build-up to a fight.

While Parker's trainer Kevin Barry said the strategy was "crazy", Fenech said it was one he understood.

"I was very similar. My outlook on the sport is that I want the other guy to fight my kind of fight," Fenech said.

"I would watch my fights hundreds of times to see what I done well, or if I done something wrong [sic]. When I'm fighting a guy I'm going to make him adapt to my style."

Saturday night's winner was potentially a few rounds away from a world title shot, and the fact this could be the 32-year-old Tupou's last opportunity was a great motivator, he said.

"I keep saying to him, 'this is the fight of your life, you're fighting for your livelihood and for your family'," Fenech said.

"With that in mind I think he'll go out there and shock the world."