TYSON FURY gave Joseph Parker a nod moments after the Kiwi was knocked out by Joe Joyce.
Parker, 30, withstood a barrage from the Brit before a left hook ended the fight in the 11th round.
And while Parker lay on the floor wondering what had just hit him, the Gypsy King nodded his head to him as a sign of respect.
Fury was sitting ringside alongside his father John and he was the first person Parker looked to after the knock-out blow.
The Brit also gestured with his hand for Parker to get back up, but the former world champion was down and out and the referee waved off the fight once he did get back to his feet.
Parker and Fury are close friends with the New Zealander even moving to Morecambe to train alongside the 34-year-old.
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Ahead of the fight against Joyce Parker praised Fury’s positivity and admitted his friend has helped him get his career back on track.
Parker said: “He’s just a positive person to be around when he trains, he just pushes everyone and he includes everyone,” Parker said. “It’s nice when he’s around in his own gym!
“He’s given us the gym to use, the house to live in, the whole team. So he’s been very influential in helping me get my career back where it is now.
“When he’s around and you go for a run, he’s never shy to give his advice and help. If he sees anything he thinks he can help with, he mentions it. I’m just thankful for everything he’s done and continues to do.
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“He was very supportive of me, even before that fight [against Fury’s cousin Hughie].
“We exchanged messages with me on social media and he was always supportive of me in my fights with [Anthony] Joshua and [Dillian] Whyte. He’s always backed me.”
Parker trained in Fury’s gym in preparation for the bout and was even gifted the Gypsy King’s home as he worked with trainer Andy Lee.
John Fury also helped out in camp with Parker suffering through his infamous medicine ball exercise – and received a hammering to his chest and stomach.
Parker was also filmed doing pad work with John and a speed ball workout, followed by deadlifts, shadow boxing and pull-ups.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
