Joseph Parker

[African Monkey]

That's Usyk for you though. He takes his time in fights and is usually happy to give away a few early rounds before coming on strong in the middle rounds. He has an amazing engine and finishes fights very strong. I think he'll do well at HW personally.

[diehard]

Usyk could be AJ's next opponent, as it's either him or Pulev. That would leave Parker out.

Anthony Joshua: I Want Foes Like Usyk To Say I've Beaten Them!
By Boxing Clever Published On Fri Jan 3, 2020, 03:45 AM EST

IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has fully embraced the possibility of fighting Oleksandr Usyk in 2020.

Usyk, who unified the entire cruiserweight division in 2020, is the WBO's mandatory challenger to Joshua.

At the same time, Kubrat Pulev is the IBF's mandatory challenger to Joshua's title.

At the moment, both sanctioning organization have ordered Joshua to meet his obligation.

But he can't face bother boxers at once.

Pulev is currently the favorite to land Joshua in the coming months, with Usyk possibly to follow in the fall.

Joshua looks forward to the scenario of facing Usyk in the ring.

"A very credible opponent. When I'm trying to build my record, I want opponents like Usyk to say that I've defeated them. He uses his feet very well, and positions his hands well. You can't hit him because his feet move so well. If you do manage to catch him, [the punches] are brushing off the gloves," Joshua told Sky Sports.

"What I'd do, as I have done already, is study him - from his footwork, his hand positioning, to his openings. Then I'd go to former people who have faced him and find out information on how to defeat him.

"Usyk is a great cruiserweight, the undisputed cruiserweight champion, who has decided to move up to heavyweight to mix it with the big boys. He's still exploring the division but he wants a piece of the big pie - he's more than welcome to try to take this out of my hands."

While Joshua is taking on Pulev, Usyk could very well face Derek Chisora. Usyk made his heavyweight debut last year with a stoppage win over late replacement Chazz Withwerspoon.

Both Usyk and Joshua were able to reach Olympic gold in their respective divisions in the 2012 games.

[diehard]

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

[justafan]

So Parker is after an opponent that won't take his ranking, is preferably US based and hopefully a southpaw if they truly believe they will fight Usak in 2020 as Parker hasn't fought many southpaws that are top shelf level. Whatever card he fights on there are big fights already on the card so the budget won't be big and given the Parker fight comes a week after Fury Wilder 2 it will be hard to promote.
So forget the likes of Hunter and start thinking at this level because Mr Higgins won't be risking a loss.
Joey Abell listed to fight the week before. https://boxrec.com/en/event/799478 Could pull out to fight Parker a week later
or the more likely option Big Bad Charles Martin come on down!

[diehard]

justafan, how do you know there are already "big fights already on the card?" Do you know who they are?

[justafan]

I don't know for sure but going off these posters and presuming it's going to be on a Matchroom card it seems likely
https://www.matchroomboxing.com/fight-nights/ or https://www.matchroomboxing.com/fight-nights/daniele-scardina-vs-andrew-francillette/

Since the Garcia/Vargas fight is in the US, it would have to be that fight, which is a week after the Fury/Wilder fight.

[diehard]

Thanks justafan.  Going by the stated date by Mr Higgins as the end of Feb., it would have to be this one: https://www.matchroomboxing.com/fight-nights/mikey-garcia-vs-jessie-vargas/

[diehard]

Parker-Usyk for vacant heavyweight title?

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker could get the opportunity to challenge for the WBO title against mandatory contender Oleksandr Usyk now with WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua obligated to defend the championship against the IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev. Parker’s promoter David Higgins told Sky Sports.”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. Usyk is a very tough fight. He’s a southpaw, he would dissect Anthony Joshua.”

[Kiwi]

Yep - that fight makes a lot of sense for all concerned.

Parker is blessed if he gets offered it.

[diehard]

Yeah, but I see the Usyk fight a possibility, but a long shot. Hope it comes off. Parker doesn't need to fight a southpaw in anticipation of that fight. Just fight someone meaningful. His last two fights have been meaningless. Time to get back on track

If Usyk happens, I'm sure he can find heaps of southpaws to spar against in Vegas. Personally, I'd get a cruiser or light heavweight who's fast to spar against. But I'm getting ahead of myself...