Joseph Parker 28-2 (21) chose Andy Lee to become his new trainer after advice from WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury 30-0-1 (21).
The 29-year-old New Zealander parted ways with longtime trainer Kevin Barry following his 12-round unanimous decision win over local rival Junior Fa 19-1 (10) in Auckland last month.
Former WBO heavyweight champion Parker will only have a short time to adjust to Lee’s training methods with a fight against Dereck Chisora 32-10 (23) scheduled for May 1.
“I called Tyson and said: ‘I’m looking for a trainer’,” Parker told Sky Sports.
“He said Andy would be perfect. Five days later I was on a plane flying to Ireland.
“Everything happened fast.”
Fury’s cousin Lee, who is a former WBO middleweight champion, is part of the Gypsy King’s training staff alongside head coach SugarHill Steward.
Steward is the nephew of Kronk Gym legend Emanuel Steward, who trained Lee for much of his career at his Detroit institution.
“A little bit of Kronk would help change things up,” Parker said.
“It’s exactly what I need for Chisora. It’s probably what I needed for Dillian Whyte, to not be bullied and chased and thrown around the ring.
“I didn’t prepare that way for the Whyte fight. But I should for this fight.”
Parker said the change of routine has sharpened him up.
“I was with Kevin for eight years so became used to his way of doing things but Andy has shown me a few other things. We clicked from the beginning,” he said.
“I was so used to the training we had, flying to Vegas, the same routine. I’m not getting younger. I want to achieve in boxing. Kevin and I decided it was a time to try something else.
“This is a new excitement, it is new and different. I’m challenging myself.”
Parker’s manager David Higgins is equally excited about the appointment of Lee.
“He’s schooled in the Emanuel Steward method at the Kronk gym, having lived with Emanuel. He’s an experienced boxer, who was also a world champion,” Higgins said.
“He’ll be young and hungry by trainer standards, but he’s got good credentials and we’ve heard good things.
“I think at this stage, Joseph is probably at a crossroads in his career and if he wants to seriously become world champion again and unify, which is every heavyweight’s dream, he’s got to be all in. You can’t really do it by halves.”
Parker’s opponent Chisora will also have a new coach on fight night after appointing American Buddy McGirt to work his corner.
Chisora made the announcement on social media alongside a photo of himself next to McGirt in the gym: “Building on the team, preparing for war!”
He recently said: “I’m looking forward to the fight, I cannot wait to get back in the ring! I love fighting, it is what I love the most.
“Good luck to Joseph Parker and his new team, we shall see you for WAR on May 1!”
