01-07-2020, 12:14 PM
Joseph Parker hoping history repeats as WBO title hangs in balance
10:21, Jan 07 2020
Joseph Parker is hoping history repeats as he eyes a potential WBO world title fight in 2020.
Parker has returned to Las Vegas and started training for his next fight in the United States in late February.
His opponent hasn't been named and it won't be Oleksandr Usyk though the Ukrainian superstar is firmly on his mind for a future fight.
Joseph Parker and trainer Kevin Barry are busy with preparations for a February fight for the Kiwi heavyweight.
Usyk is No 1 with the WBO and Parker No 2 on a rankings list headed by restored champion Anthony Joshua.
With Joshua facing mandatory defences from the WBO and IBF as he looks to guard his three major belts, there's every chance he could be forced to vacate one of them and the WBO is the most likely.
Parker is ready to step in and seize an opportunity the same way he did in late 2016 when he beat Andy Ruiz Jr in Auckland for the WBO belt vacated by the overwhelmed champion Tyson Fury.
Parker's manager David Higgins said his man wouldn't hesitate to fight Usyk, an undefeated cruiserweight who has stepped up to the heavyweight division
"It would be a good fight. Hopefully, we might see that this year," Parker's manager David Higgins told Sky Sports in the UK.
"There's talk that Joshua might have to vacate one of the sanctioning bodies. If he vacates the WBO, then suddenly you've got Usyk mandatory and I think the next available ranked boxer is Joseph Parker.
"You could end up with a situation where you have Usyk fight Parker for the vacant title, which funnily enough is how Joseph became world champion. He fought [Andy] Ruiz for the vacant title. History repeats."
Higgins spoke of respect for the Usyk camp but Parker wouldn't be overawed at a chance to become a two-time champion.
"Usyk is a very tough fight. He's a southpaw, he would dissect Anthony Joshua," Higgins said.
"We know this, but if you're the better boxer and you get a world title shot, you have an obligation to take it.
"Joseph being old school will not take a backward step, so if that does happen, Joseph will be straight in and he'll fight Usyk.
"Usyk is a very skilled professional. I respect him and his manager."
Parker still has two fights left on his lucrative three-fight deal with British promoter Eddie Hearn at Matchroom Boxing.
Hearn also handles Joshua and Usyk so he can pull the strings any way he wants once he gets some direction from the sanctioning bodies.
Anthony Joshua is likely to have to vacate one of his world championship belts and the WBO version is most likely, opening up a chance for Joseph Parker.
Hearn remains hopeful of putting Usyk in the ring with rugged Brit Dereck Chisora in London in late March to keep him busy.
But Hearn hasn't ruled out Usyk and Parker having to fight under the mandatory rules.
"Conversations are ongoing with all parties to plan what's next and it will really come to a head over the next few weeks," Hearn told Sky Sports.
"We are still awaiting clarification from the governing bodies to confirm who is chronologically next but right now everything is in play."
Stuff
10:21, Jan 07 2020
Joseph Parker is hoping history repeats as he eyes a potential WBO world title fight in 2020.
Parker has returned to Las Vegas and started training for his next fight in the United States in late February.
His opponent hasn't been named and it won't be Oleksandr Usyk though the Ukrainian superstar is firmly on his mind for a future fight.
Joseph Parker and trainer Kevin Barry are busy with preparations for a February fight for the Kiwi heavyweight.
Usyk is No 1 with the WBO and Parker No 2 on a rankings list headed by restored champion Anthony Joshua.
With Joshua facing mandatory defences from the WBO and IBF as he looks to guard his three major belts, there's every chance he could be forced to vacate one of them and the WBO is the most likely.
Parker is ready to step in and seize an opportunity the same way he did in late 2016 when he beat Andy Ruiz Jr in Auckland for the WBO belt vacated by the overwhelmed champion Tyson Fury.
Parker's manager David Higgins said his man wouldn't hesitate to fight Usyk, an undefeated cruiserweight who has stepped up to the heavyweight division
"It would be a good fight. Hopefully, we might see that this year," Parker's manager David Higgins told Sky Sports in the UK.
"There's talk that Joshua might have to vacate one of the sanctioning bodies. If he vacates the WBO, then suddenly you've got Usyk mandatory and I think the next available ranked boxer is Joseph Parker.
"You could end up with a situation where you have Usyk fight Parker for the vacant title, which funnily enough is how Joseph became world champion. He fought [Andy] Ruiz for the vacant title. History repeats."
Higgins spoke of respect for the Usyk camp but Parker wouldn't be overawed at a chance to become a two-time champion.
"Usyk is a very tough fight. He's a southpaw, he would dissect Anthony Joshua," Higgins said.
"We know this, but if you're the better boxer and you get a world title shot, you have an obligation to take it.
"Joseph being old school will not take a backward step, so if that does happen, Joseph will be straight in and he'll fight Usyk.
"Usyk is a very skilled professional. I respect him and his manager."
Parker still has two fights left on his lucrative three-fight deal with British promoter Eddie Hearn at Matchroom Boxing.
Hearn also handles Joshua and Usyk so he can pull the strings any way he wants once he gets some direction from the sanctioning bodies.
Anthony Joshua is likely to have to vacate one of his world championship belts and the WBO version is most likely, opening up a chance for Joseph Parker.
Hearn remains hopeful of putting Usyk in the ring with rugged Brit Dereck Chisora in London in late March to keep him busy.
But Hearn hasn't ruled out Usyk and Parker having to fight under the mandatory rules.
"Conversations are ongoing with all parties to plan what's next and it will really come to a head over the next few weeks," Hearn told Sky Sports.
"We are still awaiting clarification from the governing bodies to confirm who is chronologically next but right now everything is in play."
Stuff