Thursday 22 September 2016 13:28, UK
Joseph Parker has taken exception to comments made by Alexander Dimitrenko ahead of their fight on October 1.
The New Zealand heavyweight (20-0-KO17) is the mandatory challenger to Anthony Joshua's IBF world title but will first take on Dimitrenko (38-2-KO24) in Manukau City.
Russia's Dimitrenko courted controversy in the lead-up to the clash by claiming Parker was fortunate to be awarded victory the last time he fought in the city - a unanimous decision over the highly-rated Carlos Takam in May.
Speaking to radionz.co.nz, Parker responded: "This is my home, this is my home country and he's come here and disrespected me.
"I respect every fighter I get in the ring with. If I went to his home country (Germany) I wouldn't disrespect him. (Carlos) Takam was a hard fight and I trained really hard for that.
"It was a close fight but Takam's team and our team knew that we won. For him (Dimitrenko) to come here and disrespect us, I don't like it."
Parker was last in action back in July; recording a fourth-round stoppage of Solomon Haumono in Christchurch.
