Joseph Parker

[diehard]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/anthony-joshua-v-francis-ngannou-bout-in-saudi-arabia-confirmed/HHAV4VEG3JFVPCAUGAR27KQM4U/

[bart]

I reckon Hearn won't let JP fight Hygovic that route is bought and paid for by EH to gift rap a belt for AJ
So likely JP v Zhang - hopefully for another $10m or more.
Hygovic has no ambition to put his No1 IBF at risk and will fight a Fa or Wallin type level

[diehard]

(01-06-2024, 04:54 PM)bart Wrote: I reckon Hearn won't let JP fight Hygovic that route is bought and paid for by EH to gift rap a belt for AJ
So likely JP v Zhang - hopefully for another $10m or more.
Hygovic has no ambition to put his No1 IBF at risk and will fight a Fa or Wallin type level

I wondered why Hrgovic wasn't chosen. From the article, it said that AJ could lose, and still face Hrgovic for a belt. No wonder he's facing Ngaanou. He needed a fight a fight until after the Fury/Usyk fight happened so that the IBF belt could be freed.

[diehard]

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/506139/parker-must-wait-as-joshua-ngannou-showdown-announced

[Kiwi]

Wilder - Zhang is in the wind for March too

Parker better watch out or he may be on the outer for a decent opponent

[diehard]

Kiwi, do you have a link? Wilder/Zhang would be a pick'em fight. I don't think Wilder is finished. JP/Hrgovic or Kayabel is the go, I hope. Not too worried about JP being on the outer. Lots of good fights out there. Maybe DDD even?

[diehard]

Joseph Parker hopes to return on undercard of Anthony Joshua v Francis Ngannou
NZ Herald
7 Jan, 2024 01:54 PM

After beating former WBC world champion Deontay Wilder in a one-sided decision late last month, Parker has surged back to the top of the heavyweight division.

It puts him in a favourable position as he eyes up his next move, however speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Jason Pine, the 31-year-old said there were three particular opponents he would like to square off against, and they all had one important thing in common.

“100 per cent I’d like to rematch Joshua, because he’s at the top of his game, I’d like to rematch Joe Joyce, who’s come off two defeats, and I’d like to rematch Dillian Whyte, but I’m not sure if he’s active at the moment. It would be nice to rematch those who have beaten me and to avenge those losses,” Parker said.

While Parker would like to get those back, only one of the three shapes up as a viable candidate should he return in the ring in March as he hopes.

Joshua has already confirmed his next fight following a knockout win over Otto Wallin on the same card as Parker beat Wilder. Joshua will fight former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia in March, with Ngannou getting another shot at one of the sport’s best after pushing Tyson Fury in his professional boxing debut late last year. Parker is hopeful of appearing on the card himself.

“I was asking for the fight with Joshua, a rematch, after this win over Deontay Wilder, but I guess they have their own plans and the path that they want to take,” Parker said.

“I’ve seen that’s been announced, it’s massive news, and I guess because Francis Ngannou put on a great performance against Tyson [Fury], who didn’t put on the best performance himself, I think a lot of people are going to be interested to see what Joshua does with Francis Ngannou.”

Whyte also seems like an unlikely opponent as he has been inactive since November 2022. The 35-year-old was scheduled to fight Joshua midway through 2023, however, he tested positive for a banned substance and was pulled from the fight. In August, he released a statement saying he did not intentionally take a prohibited substance and would fight to prove his innocence. Since then, there has been no indication as to when he might return to action.

Joyce, the only man to knock Parker out in his 37-fight professional career, has also voiced his interest in returning to action in Saudi Arabia in March, and wouldn’t take too much convincing to take a rematch against Parker. Since his win over the Kiwi, Joyce has suffered back-to-back knockout losses to Zhilei Zhang and he would back himself to get back on track against Parker having already beaten up him.

Zhang has also voiced an interest in fighting Parker, so there are some high-level options for Parker to consider.

“At the moment, we’re just working towards trying to find the next opportunity, the next challenge and the next fight.”

[diehard]

Parker doesn't need to rematch Whyte or JJ. Move on. Heaps of good fights out there. JP is ahead of both those fighters, in the rankings and is on the up while they are on the down.

[bart]

Dudois?
I dunno I personally feel if JP fights someone ranked below him then it should be a tick over stay busy fight rather than a potential banana skin.
Reset like last year stay busy and a big fight- possibly a title or eliminator could come at any stage- stay busy stay in shape.
JP has earned his ranking so why potentially give it to someone like Ruiz who has done F'all for 2 years.
Another 4 fights this year...

[Kiwi]

Agreed, Bart

Why go back down to Joyce?

Zhang is better. Hrgovic. Not many choices at the top.

But what if Wilder DOES fight Zhang?