By George Heagney

German Yakup Saglam proved little more than a speedbump in Joseph Parker's career, with the Kiwi heavyweight easily winning by knock out in the second round in Palmerston North on Saturday night.

Parker's left jab was lethal and it set him up for the win.

He clocked Saglam with a jab, then finished it off with a big right hook 45 seconds into the second round, knocking The Scorpion to the deck and Saglam's corner threw the towel in.

"The game plan was to go in and be a bit more patient that the last fight," Parker said. "When I went in there and [trainer] Kev [Barry] said to establish a jab, which I tried in the beginning, and I landed a nice shot which I felt landed good.

"So I was trying to pick the right shots. After the first round Kev said keep establishing a jab and let it flow.

"Once it flowed I saw the opportunity and I took it."

Parker battered Saglam late in the first round, but stepped it up in the second with his big hits.

Saglam had a massive right hook of his own, but couldn't land any, while Parker's speed and power were too much.

The work Parker, 23, has put in on his defence paid off, as he kept Saglam's big rights at bay.

Parker maintained his unbeaten record, notching his 14th win and 12th by knockout, but he found this fight hard to rank.

"I can't really say. At the beginning stages, when I got those knockouts, that was the beginning stages of my career.

"But now I'm progressing, getting better and better, so I rate it as one of my best performances and hopefully everyone can see that."

Parker said it could have gone longer, but he got Saglam with a good shot.

Parker's trainer Barry said they have a long way to go and can get a lot better.

The fight was shown on ESPN in the United States.

A disappointed Saglam said Parker was inhumanely fast.

"He was too fast, it was all about speed," Saglam said through a translator.

The 38-year-old said he lost his balance because of a hit on the ear and was unsuccessful landing a big blow.

"I tried twice and it didn't work, so it probably wouldn't have changed anything. You've got to be honest at this point."

Parker said the noisy sell-out crowd of 3000 gave him one of the best receptions he's had.

Parker has another fight in Invercargill on August 1 against a yet-to-be-named opponent, but he has another training camp in Las Vegas between now and then.

Barry and Duco promoter Dean Lonergan spoke about the potential of Parker and Barry said Parker could be the country's best heavyweight.