Mickey Parker on a mission to achieve 'dream' and become British bare-knuckle champion after landing title shot

The Leigh Park has been handed an opportunity to battle it out with Dave Thomas for the vacant bareknuckle cruiserweight belt on the BKB 21 card at the 02 Stadium on April 4.

It will be a fight Parker will head into with confidence having beaten the same opponent in his previous bout in November.

But the 37-year-old is taking nothing for granted as he bids to become a British champion at the second attempt.

Parker came up short in his quest to achieve that feat in March last year.

On that occasion, fighting for the heavyweight crown, he was beaten by the classy Mark Godbeer.

Now the Leigh Park man, who boasts a 5-2 record, is looking to use that as added drive when he takes on Thomas for the British cruiserweight crown.

‘This is a dream of mine,’ said Parker.

‘I want to be known as a British champion.

‘I was quite surprised by the call to say it was a title fight, to be honest.

‘But there’s a vacant title and my promoter made me aware of it.

‘I’m not one for rematches, but when they mentioned it was for a title it was one I couldn’t refuse.

‘If we talk about my friends, say Tony Oakey from Leigh Park.

‘People know him as ex-British and Commonwealth champion.

‘I don’t want to be known as the bare-knuckle boxer of Leigh Park.

‘I’d like to be known as the British champion bareknuckle fighter.

‘I want to be remembered as that fella when I’m done.’

Parker is now back in training in preparation for the fight after a dislocated jaw kept him out of the ring.

He sustained that injury during his second-round stoppage win over Thomas in November.

And Parker, who is trained by Leigh Park Amateur Boxing Club owner Billy Bessey, is leaving no stone unturned in the build-up to his title shot.

‘I had a dislocated jaw and I couldn’t fight in January,’ revealed Parker.

‘I couldn’t spar for two months because of it.

‘I’m doing things a bit differently in preparation for this.

‘I’m training three days a week in Bristol, sparring up there.

‘I’m sparring with my former opponent Mason Shaw.

‘He’s a former BKB opponent of mine.

‘Him and his team are helping me out up there with something a bit different.

‘I’m quietly confident ahead of this.’