Unbeaten heavyweight Joseph Parker (19-0, 16 knockouts) came through the toughest test of his career to claim a unanimous decision victory over Carlos Takam in Manukau City, New Zealand, on Saturday.

There were no knockdowns in what was a highly competitive bout, with official scores tallied at 115-113 and 116-112 twice in the Kiwi’s favor.

“What a great fighter Carlos Takam is,” said the 24-year-old Parker when interviewed at the end of the Sky Arena Pay-Per-View broadcast. “I had to be 100 percent and I brought my ‘A’ game. It was a tough exciting fight and I still have a lot to learn.”

Takam looked more technically sound in the opening session, nailing the bigger man with nifty counters, but Parker’s power showed up in the second. A couple of heavy-looking combinations put the visitor on the defensive and it took him time to adjust.

The fourth round produced impressive two-way action. Parker, who is rated No. 9 by THE RING at heavyweight, was effective with right and left uppercuts to the head and worked the mid-section well but Takam, not to be outdone, crossed the right and made a strong physical impression himself.

Suddenly, the younger man slowed and Takam, who hails from Cameroon but resides in France, picked up on his opponent’s fatigue very quickly. He applied constant pressure in the fifth, bullying his man around the ring and Parker was short on answers and in full retreat mode.

The 35-year-old Takam was behind by the midway point but pacing the action well and utilizing his experience. What he didn’t have at his disposal, however, was a higher gear and Parker was able to jab his way to a second wind and get himself back in the game.

The eighth was the best round of the fight. Takam started fast, pouring on the pressure, but Parker responded with a furious burst and went all out for the finish. He hurt his man with two sharp shots during an inside exchange but Takam refused to wilt.

The visitor desperately required a late-round charge but his engine had betrayed him. Following a slow ninth, he was tagged regularly by a sharp double jab in the tenth and did little to close the distance on Parker.

Takam (33-3-1, 25 KOs) did fight a great 12th round but the veteran was matched punch-for-punch by the hard-hitting New Zealander, who should be proud of the effort he produced against his most difficult challenge to date.

Parker is now rubberstamped as the IBF mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight title. That bout will be eagerly anticipated should the power-punching Brit dispose of Dominic Breazeale next month.

Tom Gray is a member of the British Boxing Writers’ Association and has contributed to various publications. Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing