Nor'West News: April 17, 2018

6 Tuesday April 17 2018
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
News
NOR’WEST NEWS
Local
News
Now
Fire rages, homes at risk
PUBLICAN: Dean Calvert (left) turns back the clock as he poses in
front of a photo at the Valley Inn Tavern from when he was a
22-year-old pro boxer. (Above) – Joseph Parker fighting Anthony
Joshua in Cardiff.
PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER
Former champ hooks up with Parker
• By Gordon Findlater
VALLEY INN Tavern owner
Dean Calvert got closer
than most to Joseph Parker
in the build up to his world
heavyweight title unification
fight with Anthony Joshua in
Cardiff, Wales.
The former New Zealand titleholder
travelled with his father
George and brother Bryce to
London ahead of the fight where
they spent time with Parker in
the build up.
Mr Calvert, 47, comes from a
boxing mad family.
Their love for the sport has
seen them travel to a number
of high profile fights around
the world, including the Floyd
Mayweather Jr v Manny
Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas in
2015.
However, the world title fight
between Parker and Joshua on
Easter Sunday was unlike any
the family had travelled to see
before. They were made to feel
like part of the Parker family in
the build up to his biggest fight
to date.
Mr Calvert’s main connection
to the Parker camp comes
through Parker’s trainer Kevin
Barry, who also trained Mr
Calvert in the early 1990s.
“We got made to feel like part
of the family. His mum would
come down to breakfast every
morning and say hello and give
us a hug and a kiss,” said Mr
Calvert.
“We were lucky enough to
be invited on his team walk
the morning of the fight. It’s
something he does the morning
of his fights; just goes for a 15min
walk to relax.”
Mr Calvert won four New
Zealand titles in his career as a
welterweight. He also won the
Jameson Belt in 1992. The belt is
awarded to the best boxer at the
national championships each
year.
Mr Calvert’s first boxing
trainer was his grandfather
FAMILY: Dean Calvert, Joseph Parker, Bryce Calvert and
George Calvert in the UK.
Ryan Mitchell. This was before
he worked with Barry who was
training David Tua at the same
time.
Mr Calvert had 70 amateur
fights before going on to register
a professional record of eight
wins from eight fights. He took
what was originally set to be
a short break from fighting at
24. However, Mr Calvert never
returned to training.
“I do regret it sometimes, but
then I’ve had a lot of other great
memories since doing other
things.”
After boxing, Mr Calvert
worked for his family cleaning
business for 17 years before
buying the Valley Inn Tavern in
2004.
“I like the social side. It’s a
good place to catch up with
friends and the locals.”
Although Mr Calvert was
lucky enough to be at Cardiff’s
Millennium Stadium 10 rows
back from the action, he says the
Valley Inn Tavern is as good a
place as any to watch the fight.
“We were chock-a-block for the
Parker fight. We had a couple of
hundred people here, every time
he’s fought it’s been like that.”
Outside of boxing, the tavern
owner managed to find time for
some business research.
“We organised a good pub
crawl one day.”
“I bought a few menus to have
a good look at. We’ve got a few
more vegans asking for meals at
the moment so the main thing
I looked at was a few different
options for that.”
As for the future of his
favourite boxer, Mr Calvert
believes at just 26, Parker has
the determination to bounce
back.
“He was talking to us on the
plane on the way home and
he’s just determined to get
back in there and get back to
the top.”
Taking Care of Business
Buying or selling commercial or residential property, leases,
employment contracts, building contracts, we take care of it for you,
so you can take care of business.
3 locations: New Brighton, Styx Mill & Kaiapoi
www.pierlaw.co.nz