In terms of just living a normal life, 33 isn’t old at all. But when you're getting punched in the face for a living by gigantic men, 33 becomes a bit ancient.

Joseph Parker remembers his 20s like it was yesterday. He was a knockout artist, a world champion, and fought with the type of ferocity that you seldom see from heavyweights. Yet, as he got older, his punch resistance seemingly dissipated, his pernicious right hand didn’t carry its normal thump, and the speed of his shots could now be spotted a mile away.

Those points were accentuated following Parker's stoppage loss at the hands of Joe Joyce in 2022. Fast forward three years later, however, and he’s never looked better. Although he’s well into his 30s and has a career that spans nearly a decade and a half, Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) believes he's just getting started.

“I’ve only just begun,” said Parker to Carl Frampton during a face-to-face with Daniel Dubois. “I’ve only just begun.”

In his last two fights, oddsmakers looked at Parker’s old world title and viewed it as a thing of the past. But, despite being an underdog against Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, Parker went on to prove his critics wrong. Now, he’s being shown a bit more respect from the betting public but he still walks into his showdown against Daniel Dubois next weekend as an underdog.

Dipping into the fountain of youth is an old and tired cliche. It also suggests that there’s a bit of luck attached to his current run. Going with that notion takes away from the work Parker has been putting in.

At the age of 33, naturally, fighters should be just exiting their physical prime. Parker though, is convinced he’s just getting warmed up.

“I’ve found a formula that works for me and I’ve only just begun. I’m just coming into my prime.”