It was an unbelievable night for Jack Massey as he stepped into the Manchester AO Arena to face off against Joseph Parker.

Boxing fans across the nation and beyond were left dazzled on Saturday (21 January) night when the underdog Liam Smith beat Eubank Jr in just four rounds. Having been unbeaten since 2018, it was the first stoppage defeat of his career and one that shocked fans of the sport.

However, earlier on in the night, Chapel’s Jack Massey was presented the opportunity of a lifetime as he took on former world champion Joe Parker.

Undeniably the biggest fight of his career, Jack faced hardships and setbacks to get to this point, so when the fight was offered it didn’t take long for him to make up his mind.

Facing money struggles throughout 2022, Jack has openly admitted that it was one of the worst years of his life.

He took up some labouring work with his brother at Christmas just to get by. As a professional boxer, this situation hit him hard.

So, when his manager Kevin Marree picked up the phone to offer him the huge fight opportunity, Jack immediately accepted.

Things had finally begun to pick up, but the fight was not going to come as an easy feat.

Previously competing as a cruiserweight, it was going to be a huge step up for Jack to fight his first bout at heavyweight against someone who previously attained a world title.

But, dedicated and committed, he refused to back down and began preparing to step into the Manchester ring.

This element added even more excitement for Jack, who remembered spending so much time watching his idols fight in his hometown.

It wasn’t just stress in the ring that was weighing on Jack, as in his personal life he and his partner faced two devastating pregnancy losses in the same year.

Turning the calendar over to 2023, Jack is ready to face the best year yet, competing in a huge fight, and welcoming their first baby girl into the world in June.

This fight was a metaphor for greatness for Jack, the start of fantastic opportunities.

So, on Saturday night when he made his way to the ring and the crowd erupted in support, it was a monumental moment.

This tremendous reception then led into a tremendous fight.

A gutsy performance saw Jack take Parker the entire 10 round distance. Surprising Parker and the crowd with a massive right cross to the chin, Jack didn’t make it easy, and the New Zealand boxer had to work hard to land decisive blows.

After enduring 10 impressive rounds, Joseph Parker was given the win by unanimous decision, with scores of 96-93, 97-92 and 97-93.

Despite not taking the victory, the fight was a win for Jack, who propelled his name into the boxing world and opened the door for more opportunities to flow through.

The 29-year-old showed great skill as he danced around the ring, landing successful blows as he did so.

A true act of sportsmanship, the evening ended in the best way as both Jack and Joseph joined for an embrace, congratulating each other on their performances.

Posting on his Instagram, Jack said, “thank you Manchester for all the amazing support, the atmosphere was electric.

“There was no loss, only a win going toe to toe with a top 10 in the world heavyweight fighter, raising my stock massively.

“I’d like to give a huge thank you to my fans, sponsors, and supporters. Those cruiserweight boxers better be ready.”

It was an unforgettable night for Jack Massey and his team, and hopefully this will be the start of many more to come.

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