Solomon Haumono v Joseph Parker: Manny Pacquiao’s trainer bringing Aussie challenger up to speed

SOLOMON Haumono has some stellar support in his corner as he gears up to face Joseph Parker, in what will be the biggest trans-Tasman bout in history.

JAMIE PANDARAM

3 min read

June 18, 2016 - 6:15PM

Solomon Haumono has the power to trouble Joseph Parker in his own backyard.

“WE’RE going to rough this motherf----- up!” Justin Fortune booms in his Hollywood gym as Solomon Haumono pounds away on a heavy bag, the sounds echoing all the way to the Walk of Fame.

Haumono’s walk of fame to boxing greatness is being forged here, under the brutal training regimen of Fortune, strength and conditioning coach of Manny Pacquiao.

Next month, Haumono will face the No. 1 contender for the world heavyweight title Joseph Parker, in what will be the biggest trans-Tasman bout in history.

Few expect Haumono to beat the undefeated Parker in Christchurch on July 21, but his new trainer is not used to failure.

“You’re going to see a Solomon Haumono you’ve never seen before, he is going to be completely different to anything he has ever shown in the past,” Fortune said.

“He has been a plodder. He plods forward and throws those big looping right hands.

“We’re changing all that.

“In terms of power, pound for pound, he generates what Manny does. The difference is that Manny has incredible speed, he throws hooks and lateral punches so fast, and speed kills.

“We’ve been working on speed a lot with Sol here.”

Haumono is put through his paces by trainer Justin Fortune in Los Angeles.

Haumono arrived in Los Angeles a fortnight ago and Fortune has put him on the same program he’s used to prepare Pacquiao for his multi-million dollar bouts since joining the Filipino’s camp in 2002.

It is a relentless, six-days-a-week program designed to belt Parker into oblivion.

“Sol can punch like a train,” Fortune said.

“I’ve sparred a lot of heavyweights, I’ve trained a lot of heavyweights, and I’m telling you Sol can really punch.

“His power surprised me. It has been a while since I’ve worked with a heavyweight this strong, it would have been in the 1990s or early 2000s when the division was full of powerful guys.

“We’re coming to fight, we’re not coming there to look pretty with footwork and jabs.”

Fortune, a former heavyweight fighter who took on Lennox Lewis in 1995, will be in fellow Australian Haumono’s corner for the first time.

Haumono (24-2-2, 21KO) is 40 years old, and is taking on 24-year-old Parker (19-0, 16KO) in his homeland.

But Fortune has fashioned enough major upsets with Pacquiao — notably the defeats of Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto — to feel comfortable with those circumstances.

Haumono already has 21 KOs to his name from just 24 bouts.

“Parker is a very good fighter, you don’t get to become the No. 1 contender for the world title if you’re not bringing a few things to the table,” Fortune said.

“But Parker is far from the finished article.

“He makes mistakes, and we plan to capitalise on them.

“The biggest mistake he can make is to underestimate Sol and his power, because at this level, you can lose focus for a split second and the next thing you know, glove hits chin and you’re staring up at the ceiling.”

Parker’s camps are already in talks to fight IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

But should Haumono beat Parker, he will take the Kiwi’s top ranking and be next in line to take on the British superstar for the world title.

Solomon Haumono’s gruelling training schedule in LA

Monday

6AM: Warm-up for 30 minutes. Padwork, working on speed and timing for 90 minutes. Cool down for 30 minutes.

3PM: Sparring 12 rounds against Russian and American heavyweights. Heavy bag, working on power, followed by 30 minutes of skipping, followed by 30 minutes of sit-ups and crunches.

8PM: Shadow boxing, and stretching for 45 minutes.

Tuesday

6AM: 12km road run.

NOON: Recovery in swimming pool, followed by massage.

6PM: Padwork, working on combinations, followed by 30 minutes of skipping, followed by 30 minutes of sit-ups and crunches.

8PM: Shadow boxing, and stretching for 45 minutes.

Wednesday

1PM: Sparring, 12 rounds against Russian and American heavyweights, followed by 30 minutes of skipping, followed by 30 minutes of sit-ups and crunches. Cool down for 30 minutes.

9PM: 8km road run.

10PM: Stretching for 45 minutes.

Thursday

8AM: Running session at UCLA athletics track, with 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m sprints, followed by 20 sets of sprints up stairs.

1PM: Recovery massage.

6PM: Padwork, working on speed and timing, followed by speedbag.

10PM: Stretching for 45 minutes.

Friday

8AM: Warm-up for 30 minutes. Heavy bag and power punching for two hours.

3PM: Plyometrics training working on explosiveness, followed by 30 minutes of skipping, followed by 30 minutes of sit-ups and crunches. Cool down for 30 minutes.

10PM: Shadow boxing, and stretching for 45 minutes.

Saturday

6AM: Morning swim for one hour.

1PM: Sparring, 12 rounds against Russian and American heavyweights, followed by 30 minutes of skipping, followed by 30 minutes of sit-ups and crunches. Cool down for 30 minutes.