Joseph Parker is in action this weekend (Image: Getty)
Joseph Parker has gone from zero to hero in short space of time, becoming one of the best heavyweight fighters in the world.
He was crowned WBO heavyweight champion of the world in 2016, but away from the ring, the New Zealander is a devout family man.
Parker has four kids – all of which are daughters – and the boxing ace is in a relationship with partner Laine Tavita.
The pair have enjoyed a long-term relationship and are believed to have been with each other for over a decade.
It isn’t known whether they have officially tied the knot, but Parker has referred to Laine as his wife in several social media posts.
It’s led to speculation surrounding the status of their relationship and whether the two have wedded in private, or Parker just prefers to label his partner as a ‘wife’ instead.
Laine enjoys a quiet life away from the cameras and has opted to live her personal life behind closed doors.
Their romance is claimed to have begun when they were teenagers, with the two lovebirds first meeting while they were both at Auckland Marcellin College in their native New Zealand.
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The first of their four daughters was born in 2016, with Parker and his partner welcoming more kids in 2018, 2019 and most recently 2022, when their youngest child was born in May of that year.
Laine has been an ever-present throughout the majority of Parker’s boxing career, which began when he turned professional back in 2012.
Since then, he has fought 38 professional bouts, winning 35 and losing three.
Of his 35 victories in the ring, 23 of them arrived via knockout blows.
Commenting on his relationship and family life in the build-up to the February 2025 Riyadh Season bout, Parker told The Guardian: “It’s been very beneficial [having a reunion with his family during the training camp] because I worry when I’m in camp. I always think: ‘What’s happening back home? How are they? They’re missing out on time seeing their dad. Is my wife OK looking after five kids?’
“The toughest part about boxing is saying goodbye to your family and being away in camp. They’re now staying in a separate house but it’s six minutes away and I get to see them for two hours every evening. It’s a great boost.”