Heavyweight fringe contender Carlos Takam will take on undefeated up-and-comer Joseph Parker on Saturday evening at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau City (just outside Auckland) in an IBF heavyweight title eliminator.

The bout will be broadcast in New Zealand on Sky Arena Pay-Per-View for $49.95 NZD (around $34 USD).

Takam (33-2-1, 25 knockouts) has won three consecutive fights since giving Alexander Povetkin a tough fight in October 2014 and is confidently looking forward to facing Parker.

“I’m excited for Saturday night,” the 35-year-old native of Cameroon told RingTV.com through translator Namiko Shibata on Wednesday. “I’m excited to be here and for the fight. I’ve been training hard for a really long time. This is what I’ve been preparing for and I’m gonna showcase the work I’ve put in Saturday night.

“Being up close [to Parker] doesn’t change my feelings. Whether a boxer is taller, short, it doesn’t matter. You find out in the ring. My feelings will change toward him once I’m actually in the ring. I’m here to win.”

When asked to assess the strengths and weaknesses of Parker (18-0, 16 KOs), an aggressive boxer-puncher with formidable speed, Takam admitted to watching tape of the 24-year-old New Zealander but added that he takes such scouting with a pinch of salt.

“It’s one thing to watch a boxer on video – and yes it’s good to watch a boxer on video – the matches might be similar but it’s never going to be the same thing,” he said philosophically. “As much as I’m judging his videos I realize there’s a difference every match.

“What I like to do is judge a fighter after the match. I’ll tell you Joseph Parker’s weakness after the match. It’s like putting a plate of food in front of me and asking me if it tastes good. I haven’t taken a bite yet (laughs).”

The France-based fighter prepared diligently in Paris for three months knowing he had one of the biggest fights of his life ahead of him before heading to Milan where his promoter father and son tandem of Salvatore and Christian Cherchi are based. Then, along with his manager/trainer Joseph Germain, they flew six hours to Dubai, after a five-hour layover they endured a huge 16-hour flight to Auckland arriving 10 days before the fight to acclimate to the environment.

Takam comes from a modest family in the sea port of Douala, the largest city in Cameroon. He took up boxing at a young age though never told his parents.

“There was a boxing club in between my home and school, secretly I used to go there after school,” he said reminiscing. “I signed up because I thought it was interesting. I would train for a long time and found a passion for it. It wasn’t until after I won my first trophy in boxing that I told my dad I had even started boxing [laughs]. I came home and said, ‘Dad I won a trophy.’ He said, ‘A trophy for what?’ and I said, ‘A trophy for boxing.’ He goes, ‘Oh you do boxing now!?

“My dad is a big fan of George Foreman and I’m a huge fan of Muhammad Ali. We used to have conversations about what type of boxer I was going to be, he used to want me to be like Foreman and I wanted to be like Ali. My dad used to say ‘You have to hit like Foreman’ and I said ‘I’m going to move around the ring like Ali.’

“Although we did bond over boxing, it wasn’t until after I won the African championships that my dad sat me down and said, ‘What do you want? I value education but what do you want?’ and without even thinking twice I said ‘Boxing.'”

In 2002, he took up the sport seriously and progressed quickly representing his country at the 2004 Olympics in Athens but lost in the opening round.

After the Olympic games he made the decision to go professional. Initially moving to Brussels and then on to Paris where he met his coach and now lives.

He remains unbowed about once again taking to the road.

“Ever since I reached the elite level of boxing I’m always having to travel so it’s something I’m used to in my career,” he said. “I always try to adapt myself in the country where I’m going to be boxing. I learned about New Zealand from watching TV. I’m a big Rugby fan, so I’m excited to be here because I’ve always shown an interest in New Zealand, although this isn’t a vacation. I’m here to work but I’m still happy I get to explore a country I’ve shown interest in.

“People have been really nice since I got here. Just for example this morning I woke up at 8:00 a.m. to do a little training at the hotel. There were a few people there who were also training, they watched me a little bit and they came up to me and took pictures. They were really nice.”

However, on Saturday he intends to upset those same people – he’s a 10/3 underdog with on-line betting group bet365.com – and earn his shot at Anthony Joshua.

“I hope [Parker is] ready for this fight. I haven’t come here to mess around. I’ve come here to win. It’s absolutely important for my career that I win and that’s what I’ve come to do.”

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