Lauren Parker: “I have never given up and things are now starting to pay off.”

Lauren Parker: “I have never given up and things are now starting to pay off.”

It was a gentle reminder about our Zoom interview, my words were, it will only be a quick interview. I was wrong, and very much so. I had forgotten just how much Lauren Parker could talk. After ten minutes of relatively idle chat, our now not-so-quick interview started in earnest. Parker is in fairness an interviewer’s dream, or worst nightmare if the ageing fingers are now prone to ache a little more than usual.

Parker, fresh from her first professional title, had every reason to be in a talkative mood. The emotional post-fight reaction and the tears that followed showed what it meant to Parker. Several weeks from that win in Rotherham against Edna Maltos, Parker told me she was happy with her night’s work in South Yorkshire:

“I was pleased with my fight. My first ten-rounder. I’d only previously done four or six rounds before, that was my 9th fight and my first ten-rounder. So jumping through hurdles like that I am quite proud of myself that I got through my first ten-rounder. I felt pretty comfortable, I was given the correct advice on how to manage the rounds correctly. As a whole, I think I did that, managed the rounds well, won each round pretty convincingly and I won the whole fight convincingly. I have come away from the fight with a lot of positive vibes. Normally I come away from a fight thinking I should have done this or that. Don’t get me wrong I have watched the fight about five times now, and I always see things I should have done, but that’s where you learn. I’ve taken fewer negative things from this fight, I have just looked at it and said the things I have done well, do better next time, or add a couple of more shots. I’ve not really picked it to bits like I normally do.”

There have been periods in her career where Parker has been overly critical of performances, focusing on the negatives and not the things she did right. But she has now found that perfect balance:

“I think it is important to do that. You can always be so self-critical. But sometimes you need to build yourself up and then build on that for the next time rather than shoot yourself down. I have had to learn along the way because I have been so critical of myself and I would always put myself down and then start doubting myself. But now I have learned from that, and if something doesn’t go right, next time we’ll make it right and you just build on things. If we make mistakes, we put them right. It’s hard to get that balance, but you have to learn to be kind to yourself sometimes.”

Parker needs time to recover from the effects of a long training camp in preparation for Maltos, but plans are already being made for her next fight:

“I think the next time I will be out will be the end of February. I definitely won’t be out again this year, but the way Unified Promotions are working I think we are looking early next year.”

It was a frustrating start to her pro career, a defeat and a draw in her opening four fights must have dampened any title ambitions. But Parker (7-1-1) showed her resilience and much improvement and is now riding an impressive five-fight winning streak. They say a happy fighter is a dangerous fighter, Parker looks to be in that kind of place:

“Things are looking really good at the minute and I am loving it. I love the progression I am making with my coach. I have had to move away from one of my coaches, it was his decision, but I am so grateful for all the help, guidance and time that he gave me. But I am now just working with Paul Webber. It took a little bit of adjusting because I had been with my other coach for twelve years. Paul has done some amazing things for me, I believe in his training and his methods. He is very upbeat, his mindset is great and he brings out the best in me, he genuinely does. I feel like I am in good hands. I just think everything is speaking for itself.”

A lot of the mainstream focus is on weights above super-flyweight, but the division Parker resides in, is perhaps boxing’s best-kept secret. Boxrec only lists five domestic fighters, but the limited numbers can’t hide the quality that hides within. Parker sits at the top of those rankings, but the likes of Shannon Ryan, Emma Dolan, Nicola Hopewell and Gemma Ruegg lie in wait. Parker has been watching their progress with interest:

“A fight with any of those girls would be great viewing. Shannon Ryan especially is a great fighter. I personally get on great with her, I think she is a fantastic person. We’ve had some fantastic spars together. And if ever a fight is made between us, the viewers would be very entertained. Who knows what will happen, we are both on our journey, different ways that we are going. But if these fights crop up I think they would be good. All of the girls are coming through nicely, I have watched them all fight and I think there is some great talent around. I think the super-flyweight division is one to really look at and not be ignored.”

There are the prospects of those domestic fights, Parker brings entertainment and any fight with the likes of Ryan, Dolan and Hopewell, can’t fail to disappoint. But Parker carries a high European ranking, and her immediate thoughts look to be at winning more titles:

“I’m not sure what the plan is at the minute. Obviously, I have just won the IBO Inter-Continental, so I don’t know if I will defend that. But to be honest, I wouldn’t mind going for another title, maybe the Commonwealth or the European, and then we can move on to bigger things. I don’t think I am that far off from going for a world title. It would be tough, but I am the type of girl who is up for any challenge. If I get beat I will hold my hand up and say let’s go again. That is what I am about, not giving up. I have been on this journey for a long time and I have always wanted to know what the result will be from never giving up. I have never given up and things are now starting to pay off. The world is my oyster and I am going to go for it all.”

There is an old quote on her socials, which epitomises what Parker is all about: ‘Be savage, not average.’ Savage, is probably a perfect description of her ring style, and the attitude of aiming for the stars has to be admired. After the early setbacks, it would have been easy for Parker to make her excuses and walk away from the sport. But she stayed and worked her way back to where she is now. 2023 looks set to be a very big year for Parker. She could quite easily be just a couple of fights away from a crack at a world title. The only worry for me will be, is how much Parker will talk if she does manage to win that world title.