By Duncan Johnstone

Joseph Parker is getting older and bolder, declaring he will knock out Sherman Williams in their heavyweight boxing clash in Auckland tomorrow night.

The rising Kiwi, normally reserved, went out of his way to state his intentions during the weigh-in today.

''I'm setting out to knock out Sherman Williams. That's the goal I have set for myself and I will do it,'' Parker said.

''I'm confident in the training I've done in my last camp. Kevin Barry has taught me knew things and I will use them.''

Parker has nine knockouts in his unbeaten career of 10 wins and will be attempting to be just the second boxer to KO Williams who has earned a reputation for his durability over a 52-fight career dating back to 1997.

American Robert Davis stopped Williams in the fifth round of their scheduled eight-rounder in Mississippi in 1999.

Parker's trainer Barry backed his fighter's intentions.

''That confidence is a reflection of the way Joe has trained,'' Barry said.

''Sherman has been stopped once in 17 fights and one of the challenges I set Joe at the beginning of our last camp was that we need to prepare to break this guy down.''

Parker has a 13cm height advantage though Williams has an unusually long reach of 1.93m for his squat frame.

The Bahamas fighter will also take a considerable weight advantage into the fight.

Williams brushed off Parker's prediction, noting his long and impressive record, and said he'd heard a lot of ''circus'' talk in the last few days, even casting doubts over the legitimacy of Parker's shoulder injury from training.

''I'll stay focused, I've done the work, I'm mentally and spiritually fit ... I'm ready.''