Former Duco Events chief executive Martin Snedden has issued some sage advice to former charge Joseph Parker - get out of the fight game now.
The Kiwi heavyweight boxer suffered his second career loss on Sunday (NZ time), dropping a unanimous-points decision to Briton Dillian Whyte in London.
Parker was knocked to the canvas twice during the bout - one resulted from a clash of heads in the second round - the first time he had been felled over his 26-fight record.
While his management team are adamant their fighter is capable of regaining the world title he lost to Anthony Joshua in April, others have speculated that this may be the end of Parker's career.
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Snedden, one of New Zealand's most respected sports administrators, has joined those urging him to walk away.
"Personally, I think he'd be really wise to retire right now," Snedden told The AM Show.
"I think he's done a wonderful job with his career, but as soon as you start getting hit, the risk of ongoing brain problems really escalates.
"He's done really well so far and he's looked after his money, so he's well set up - he's an intelligent young kid.
"He has the capability of going on and doing a second career somewhere. He's got two young kids now."
Parker finished strongly over the final rounds against Whyte, putting his opponent on the deck in the closing minute, but ultimately running out of time to complete the comeback.
Afterwards, Whyte insisted Parker, 26, still have a big future in the heavyweight division, but even manager David Higgins left the door ajar for his protégé to leave gracefully.
"I'm very confident that there will be a range of comeback options for Joseph Parker - if he wants to come back and I've heard nothing to suggest he doesn't," said Higgins at the post-fight media conference.
Snedden thinks continuing would be a mistake.
"The temptation is to search for that way back," he told The AM Show. "I think what we've seen so far is he's really good, but he's probably not quite there.
"I doubt if he'll make this decision, but if I was him, I'd get out right now."
Snedden was a Blackcaps test and one-day cricketer from 1980-90, and was later CEO of NZ Cricket CEO and the 2011 Rugby World Cup organising company.
His two years as Duco chief executive ended soon after Parker defeated Andy Ruiz to snatch the WBO heavyweight championship in 2016.
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