Joseph Parker of New Zealand in 2010
Tony Yoka (L) of France fights with Joseph Parker of New Zealand during their super heavy +91 kg boxing final bout at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) August 25, 2010. Yoka won the gold medal. REUTERS Reuters

Undefeated New Zealander Joseph Parker is on the rise in the heavyweight division rankings entering the Top 10 boxers in the weight class in the newest and most updated World Boxing Association (WBA) list.

Parker, who turned pro in July 2012, is undefeated in 11 fights with nine of the wins coming by way of knockouts. The 22-year-old Kiwi defended the Pan Asian Boxing Association (PABA) heavyweight and World Boxing Organisation Oriental heavyweight titles after the unanimous decision victory over Sherman Williams of the Bahamas last Oct. 16, 2014. Parker won in convincing fashion with two judges scoring the bout 100-90 in his favour and another at 97-84.

The new WBA rankings for October 2014 was released and published on its official website, wbanews.com last Wednesday, Nov. 12. Wladimiir Klitschko of Ukraine is the WBA Super Heavyweight Champion while Ruslan Chagaev of Uzbekistan is the WBA World Heavyweight Champion.

According to stuff.co.nz, a New Zealand-based website, Kevin Barry, trainer for the New Zealander boxer, credited Parker’s climb in the rankings to “a busy schedule and hard work.”

Before the dominating win over Williams, Parker has had fought three bouts already in 2014. He beat Keith Thompson (USA) via a third round technical knockout in September, Brian Minto (USA) via a seventh round retirement in July, and Marcelo Luiz Nascimento (Brazil) via a seventh round technical knockout in April. He fought four times in 2013 and thrice in his debut year in 2012.

The 6-foot-4 Parker resides in South Auckland, New Zealand and was born in Auckland. Parker has yet to announce his next fight.