4 days ago
'Maybe Joseph Parker' - Kiwi back in title frame after Usyk's stunning win
Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight world champion and perhaps the best heavyweight boxer of his generation, has mentioned New Zealander Joseph Parker as a potential next opponent.
Moments after Usyk spectacularly stopped Daniel Dubois in front of 90,000 people at Wembley Stadium this morning to become the undisputed heavyweight champion for the second time, the 38-year-old Ukranian, who many believed would retire after conquering the world yet again, said stopping was not on his agenda.
'Thirty-eight is a young guy, remember,' he said in the ring. 'Thirty-eight is only the start.
'Next, I don't know. I want to rest… I want to go home to my family, my wife and children.
'Maybe Tyson Fury, maybe Derek Chisora, maybe Anthony Joshua, maybe Joseph Parker.'
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Parker, 33, a former world champion, is the mandatory challenger of the WBO belt, one of several that Usyk holds.
But such are the twists and turns of professional boxing that nothing is guaranteed.
Indeed, Parker was lined up to fight Dubois in Riyadh in February only for the Englishman to pull out on the eve of the bout due to a conveniently-timed illness after having a conversation with Usyk, so no one on his team is sure about what will happen next.
Joseph Parker knocks out Martin Bakole in Riyadh in February. (Source: Photosport)
Parker's manager David Higgins told 1News: 'Our team thought it was great that Joseph was mentioned but at the same time Joseph is the mandatory challenger with the WBO.
'He's earned it on merit and waited a long time. A couple of the names [Usyk] mentioned he's already beaten twice. In our view it's a bit silly fighting someone he's already beaten twice.
'The funny thing about boxing is that anything can happen. On paper Joseph is the WBO mandatory challenger… in practice we hope he does [fight Parker] and if he doesn't, we'd hope the sanctioning body would strip the title or the title is vacated.
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'You might see a scenario where Joseph fights for the WBO title but against someone else.'
In other words, nothing much has changed, but that did not stop Parker from pushing his case in the ring afterwards.
A social media post published by Parker shows the South Aucklander in the packed ring in the aftermath of the fight congratulating Usyk, still undefeated after 24 professional fights, and inquiring of his plans.
'Bro, I don't know,' Usyk responds in what is a friendly conversation. 'Give me the time, I want to rest.'
Professional boxing's capricious paymaster Turki al-Sheik has already stated that he wants Usyk to fight rising English talent Moses Itauma next but previously the Saudi Arabian has spoken of his wish to lure Fury out of retirement to fight Usyk.
Usyk, who has now beaten Dubois twice, this second time more convincingly via a stunning fifth-round stoppage, has already beaten Fury twice. He has also beaten Joshua twice.
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Such is his quality and accuracy that Usyk always appears improved in rematches so it would make little sense in terms of his legacy to fight either of those English opponents again.
Not surprisingly, Higgins agrees.
'If Usyk is about legacy he'll fight Joseph because it will be for the undisputed title – all the belts… if Usyk chooses to vacate the WBO title and fight Fury or Joshua that's about money…'
Higgins is not the only one who thinks Parker deserves his shot.
English promoter Frank Warren, Dubois' handler, said immediately afterwards: 'The WBO have already ordered that he as the WBO champion has to make his mandatory defence against Joe Parker, so it's Joe Parker's time.'
And none other than Lennox Lewis, the English former undisputed heavyweight champion, said: 'Joseph Parker has the best chance now. They have been freezing Joseph Parker out. Joseph needs that next fight so get him in there.'
Higgins added: 'In just over 12 months Joe has beaten Zhilei Zhang, Deontay Wilder and Martin Bakole – he's on a roll. He's earned his shot. Hopefully the merit-based system kicks in and Joseph gets his chance.'
