01-08-2024, 04:17 PM
Kiwi heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker remains hopeful of fighting a top-10 opponent in Saudi Arabia in March following the news rival Anthony Joshua has secured a bout against mixed martial artist Francis Ngannou.
Parker, fresh from his impressive victory over American Deontay Wilder in Riyadh last month, had targeted Joshua after the English fighter stopped Otto Wallin on the same card.
But Joshua, mindful of the threat Parker poses as the pair attempt to recapture their world titles, and, no doubt, the riches attached to a high-profile bout against UFC heavyweight Ngannou, has decided on a different route.
“That’s a big fight and massive news,” Parker told 1News while on a family holiday in Samoa.
“I was trying to get the fight with Joshua myself because it would be great to avenge the loss on my record.
“He looked awesome in his last fight and I was able to get the job done against Wilder. I thought it could have been a fight that could have been made but I guess they’re going down a different path.
“We have to scan the heavyweight division and see who else is available.”
Parker and his connections are looking at Zhilei Zhang, Filip Hrgovic and a rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr as possibilities, but undefeated Croatian Hrgovic is a mandatory challenger with the IBF and may not want to risk his position.
A rematch against Joe Joyce, the only man to stop Parker, is another possibility, but regardless, the New Zealander’s reputation has been given a huge boost by his upset win over Wilder, one of the hardest punchers in the sport.
Parker, 31, followed his strategy to perfection in pressuring Wilder and the kudos and popularity he gained from the performance and wide unanimous decision will stand him in good stead for another huge payday in Saudi Arabia. Depending on the exchange rate, he earned between $8-9 million from the Wilder fight.
Parker will return to Auckland at the end of the week before flying out for Ireland for a camp with trainer Andy Lee. He hopes to have an opponent locked in over the next fortnight.
“I’ve had discussions that there could be a fight in March but until there is something concrete or an opponent locked in, it’s just training to stay in shape and training to stay prepared.”
Joshua relieved Parker of his WBO world title in front of a huge crowd and television audience in Cardiff in 2018. He is one of three men to beat Parker – the third was fellow Englishman Dillian Whyte, now inactive, in a controversial fight in London the same year.
Parker is philosophical about Joshua’s decision after Parker’s good friend Tyson Fury struggled to beat Ngannou - a man with limited boxing experience in Riyadh in October.
“I’m really happy that Francis Ngannou got the fight,” Parker said. “He is a nice man and works hard. I’m interested to see what Joshua can do with him. Francis put on a great fight against Tyson and Tyson put in perhaps not his greatest performance.”
Parker said it was a time for reflection after a busy year – he fought four times - but goal-setting as well.
“The ultimate is to win the world title and that’s Joshua’s goal as well… I’ve won it before when I was 24 years old and maybe I was too young and didn’t know how to be a world champ.
“I would love the opportunity to fight for the championship of the world again. And this time it would be different. If I was to win it again, I’m gonna hold on to it for as long as I can and do everything right.
“The only way I can corner [Joshua] and get him is by winning. I have to win in good fashion and show that I can give more to the heavyweight division. If I can keep winning and look good doing so then eventually our paths will cross again.”
Parker added of his support from New Zealand and Samoa and further afield: “I feel like I’m back and it’s amazing to see the support. It makes me want to go out and do even better than I did with Wilder.”
Parker, fresh from his impressive victory over American Deontay Wilder in Riyadh last month, had targeted Joshua after the English fighter stopped Otto Wallin on the same card.
But Joshua, mindful of the threat Parker poses as the pair attempt to recapture their world titles, and, no doubt, the riches attached to a high-profile bout against UFC heavyweight Ngannou, has decided on a different route.
“That’s a big fight and massive news,” Parker told 1News while on a family holiday in Samoa.
“I was trying to get the fight with Joshua myself because it would be great to avenge the loss on my record.
“He looked awesome in his last fight and I was able to get the job done against Wilder. I thought it could have been a fight that could have been made but I guess they’re going down a different path.
“We have to scan the heavyweight division and see who else is available.”
Parker and his connections are looking at Zhilei Zhang, Filip Hrgovic and a rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr as possibilities, but undefeated Croatian Hrgovic is a mandatory challenger with the IBF and may not want to risk his position.
A rematch against Joe Joyce, the only man to stop Parker, is another possibility, but regardless, the New Zealander’s reputation has been given a huge boost by his upset win over Wilder, one of the hardest punchers in the sport.
Parker, 31, followed his strategy to perfection in pressuring Wilder and the kudos and popularity he gained from the performance and wide unanimous decision will stand him in good stead for another huge payday in Saudi Arabia. Depending on the exchange rate, he earned between $8-9 million from the Wilder fight.
Parker will return to Auckland at the end of the week before flying out for Ireland for a camp with trainer Andy Lee. He hopes to have an opponent locked in over the next fortnight.
“I’ve had discussions that there could be a fight in March but until there is something concrete or an opponent locked in, it’s just training to stay in shape and training to stay prepared.”
Joshua relieved Parker of his WBO world title in front of a huge crowd and television audience in Cardiff in 2018. He is one of three men to beat Parker – the third was fellow Englishman Dillian Whyte, now inactive, in a controversial fight in London the same year.
Parker is philosophical about Joshua’s decision after Parker’s good friend Tyson Fury struggled to beat Ngannou - a man with limited boxing experience in Riyadh in October.
“I’m really happy that Francis Ngannou got the fight,” Parker said. “He is a nice man and works hard. I’m interested to see what Joshua can do with him. Francis put on a great fight against Tyson and Tyson put in perhaps not his greatest performance.”
Parker said it was a time for reflection after a busy year – he fought four times - but goal-setting as well.
“The ultimate is to win the world title and that’s Joshua’s goal as well… I’ve won it before when I was 24 years old and maybe I was too young and didn’t know how to be a world champ.
“I would love the opportunity to fight for the championship of the world again. And this time it would be different. If I was to win it again, I’m gonna hold on to it for as long as I can and do everything right.
“The only way I can corner [Joshua] and get him is by winning. I have to win in good fashion and show that I can give more to the heavyweight division. If I can keep winning and look good doing so then eventually our paths will cross again.”
Parker added of his support from New Zealand and Samoa and further afield: “I feel like I’m back and it’s amazing to see the support. It makes me want to go out and do even better than I did with Wilder.”