Joseph Parker has posted a convincing, but unspectacular win over Australian-Samoan Alex Leapai in their heavyweight boxing bout in Providence, Rhode Island.
Photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA
The former WBO heavyweight title holder has needed more than nine rounds to beat Leapai, who had less than two weeks to prepare for the fight.
The referee eventually stopped the contest two minutes and 18 seconds into the 10th round, with Parker officially winning by TKO.
The Kiwi had been seeking a quick knock-out victory to show he deserves another world title shot.
And while he dominated the bout, he was unable to knock down the veteran Leapai.
The 39-year-old was once a world title contender himself, getting in the ring with Wladimir Klitschko in 2014.
Leapai was knocked out in the fifth round of that bout.
He lost his next two fights and, after his defeat to Parker, has now been been beaten in four of his last seven bouts.
It is Joseph Parker's second straight win, after the first losses of his career to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte last year.
It was also Parker's first bout in a three fight deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing.
He is expected to get in the ring a further two times this year with his next bout reportedly to be against Brit Dereck Chisora in September.
