Likely opponents Joseph Parker will eye to plot his comeback
Joseph Parker has quickly pout his hands up to say he wants another fight - as soon as possible.
Joseph Parker's handlers will have to box clever as they chart a comeback course for their fallen WBO world heavyweight champion.
There are plenty of options out there but it will be a case of who wants to risk themselves, and their ranking positions, against Parker who still showed plenty in his unification loss to Anthony Joshua to suggest he can remain a force in the division.
Parker's effort was arguably his best performance in the last couple of years, despite ending in his first loss as a professional.
Anthony Joshua celebrates with his belts.
A defeat against a champion like Joshua is no embarrassment, it's now how he recovers to get back into the mix that matters now.
Duco Boxing obviously have a strong relationship with the WBO where he has reigned since late 2016. They also have powerful connections with the WBA and Parker was once a mandatory challenger to the IBF title before changing course and heading down the WBO route.
As a champion, Parker hasn't been ranked and when the next ranking lists are revealed towards the end of the month a key will be to see where he is placed by who on the back of his loss. That will help shape his route back to get in the mix of title contenders.
Promoter David Higgins is keen to continue to pursue the lucrative UK market and maximise his powerful relationship with Eddie Hearn. He also has Top Rank's Bob Arum as a strong ally in the US scene if they opt to go that way.
The current rankings share some fighters and they will be targets, presenting double or triple potential for Parker.
Here are some likely opponents that will be on the table when Higgins, Parker, trainer Kevin Barry and matchmaker Stuart Duncan sit down to discuss their options.
Dillian Whyte has big aspirations and his useful rankings positions will give added appeal to Joseph Parker.
Dillian Whyte (UK) – He's brash and packs a punch. He isn't tall but he is powerful and dangerous though his style would suit Parker. He's also a crowd pleaser in Britain, so he comes with the backing of cash, being on Hearn's books. But he is the mandatory to Deontay Wilder in the WBC. That's good and bad. He might not want to risk that against a fighter of Parker's quality, but if the Joshua v Wilder fight gets made, then Parker could be a viable alternative. Whyte is also No 9 with the WBA and No 9 with the WBO and No 4 with the IBF so he has strong appeal.
Aging British heavyweight Dereck Chisora has never said no to a challenge.
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Aging British heavyweight Dereck Chisora has never said no to a challenge.
Dereck Chisora (UK) – Another British fighter with plenty of appeal for that market. He's an old school fighter who loves to stand and deliver. Again, his style would suit Parker's slicker skills. At 34 he's looking for pay days and wouldn't say no if the money stacked up. He's No 14 with the WBC but is coming off a win that should see him rise.
David Haye or David Bellew (UK) – These are listed together as they are about to fight each other in a juicy rematch. Bellew was chasing Parker hard because he had a world title but mightn't be so keen now. Both these guys are in reality cruiserweights and after they saw the way Parker went the distance with Joshua, handling one of the biggest punchers in the game, they will be wary. The loser of their match is likely to retire. Bellew is on Hearn's books which might help twist his arm. Neither have the all-important rankings to manoeuvre Parker to where he needs to be but either man would represent a decent UK pay day for Parker.
Alexander Povetkin's disposal of David Price on the Parker v Joshua undercard was brutal and he's desperate to go to the next level.
Alexander Povetkin (Russia) – The veteran finds himself in the powerful position of being mandatory with both the WBO and WBA, a job description he has worked hard to achieve on the back of his drugs scandals. Would he risk those? He was brutal in his KO demolition of lanky Brit David Price on the Parker-Joshua undercard but got wobbled himself too. His one loss was to Wladimir Klitschko so he has credentials. Size and style-wise it's a good match-up for Parker but the Kiwi would want to fight him in the UK, not Russia.
Jarrell Miller (US) – He's No 3 with both the WBA and WBO, so Duco connections might be able to sort this. He's long been calling out the champs and a chance to prove his worth against Parker could be a temptation and a key for him to get a crack at the big time. He's big and powerful but nothing that Parker couldn't handle. Those rankings make him tempting. Hearn isn't adverse to having top-flight international fights on his undercards in Britain or Arum could probably help arrange this in the US.
Dominic Breazeale (US) – He's No 2 with the WBC and WBO and No 6 with the IBF so he has value. He was KO'd in seven by Joshua in his world title challenge and that's his only loss. At 32 he's right in his prime.
Bryant Jennings (US) – He's on Arum's books and the veteran promoter has repeatedly talked of this fight. He could make it in a heartbeat if it made sense to Parker. He's on the comeback trail with three wins after a two-year hiatus. He's No 8 with the WBO and No 13 with the WBA, so he has rankings to help Parker's cause without too much risk. At 33, Jennings would see this as an opportunity to really test his credentials.
LIke Joseph Parker, Luis Ortiz is dealing with the first loss of his career.
Luis Ortiz (Cuba) – Like Parker, the heavy-handed Ortiz is coming off the first loss of his career, KO'd late in a slugfestwith Wilder. He's 39 and big pay days are disappearing over the horizon. This would be a marketable fight and Ortiz is not long off the books of Hearn so he could have his arm twisted to venture to the UK where he has fought just once before.
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT RANKINGS
WBC
Champion – Deontay Wilder
1. Dillian Whyte
2. Dominic Breazeale
3. Luis Ortiz
4. Alexander Povetkin
5. Kubrat Pulev
6. Tony Bellew
7. Johann Duhaupas
8. Charles Martin
9. Adam Kownacki
10. Agit Kabayel
11. Oscar Rivas
12. Carlos Takam
13. Lucas Browne
14. Dereck Chisora
15. Bermane Stiverne
Joseph Parker has quickly pout his hands up to say he wants another fight - as soon as possible.
Joseph Parker's handlers will have to box clever as they chart a comeback course for their fallen WBO world heavyweight champion.
There are plenty of options out there but it will be a case of who wants to risk themselves, and their ranking positions, against Parker who still showed plenty in his unification loss to Anthony Joshua to suggest he can remain a force in the division.
Parker's effort was arguably his best performance in the last couple of years, despite ending in his first loss as a professional.
Anthony Joshua celebrates with his belts.
A defeat against a champion like Joshua is no embarrassment, it's now how he recovers to get back into the mix that matters now.
Duco Boxing obviously have a strong relationship with the WBO where he has reigned since late 2016. They also have powerful connections with the WBA and Parker was once a mandatory challenger to the IBF title before changing course and heading down the WBO route.
As a champion, Parker hasn't been ranked and when the next ranking lists are revealed towards the end of the month a key will be to see where he is placed by who on the back of his loss. That will help shape his route back to get in the mix of title contenders.
Promoter David Higgins is keen to continue to pursue the lucrative UK market and maximise his powerful relationship with Eddie Hearn. He also has Top Rank's Bob Arum as a strong ally in the US scene if they opt to go that way.
The current rankings share some fighters and they will be targets, presenting double or triple potential for Parker.
Here are some likely opponents that will be on the table when Higgins, Parker, trainer Kevin Barry and matchmaker Stuart Duncan sit down to discuss their options.
Dillian Whyte has big aspirations and his useful rankings positions will give added appeal to Joseph Parker.
Dillian Whyte (UK) – He's brash and packs a punch. He isn't tall but he is powerful and dangerous though his style would suit Parker. He's also a crowd pleaser in Britain, so he comes with the backing of cash, being on Hearn's books. But he is the mandatory to Deontay Wilder in the WBC. That's good and bad. He might not want to risk that against a fighter of Parker's quality, but if the Joshua v Wilder fight gets made, then Parker could be a viable alternative. Whyte is also No 9 with the WBA and No 9 with the WBO and No 4 with the IBF so he has strong appeal.
Aging British heavyweight Dereck Chisora has never said no to a challenge.
GETTY IMAGES
Aging British heavyweight Dereck Chisora has never said no to a challenge.
Dereck Chisora (UK) – Another British fighter with plenty of appeal for that market. He's an old school fighter who loves to stand and deliver. Again, his style would suit Parker's slicker skills. At 34 he's looking for pay days and wouldn't say no if the money stacked up. He's No 14 with the WBC but is coming off a win that should see him rise.
David Haye or David Bellew (UK) – These are listed together as they are about to fight each other in a juicy rematch. Bellew was chasing Parker hard because he had a world title but mightn't be so keen now. Both these guys are in reality cruiserweights and after they saw the way Parker went the distance with Joshua, handling one of the biggest punchers in the game, they will be wary. The loser of their match is likely to retire. Bellew is on Hearn's books which might help twist his arm. Neither have the all-important rankings to manoeuvre Parker to where he needs to be but either man would represent a decent UK pay day for Parker.
Alexander Povetkin's disposal of David Price on the Parker v Joshua undercard was brutal and he's desperate to go to the next level.
Alexander Povetkin (Russia) – The veteran finds himself in the powerful position of being mandatory with both the WBO and WBA, a job description he has worked hard to achieve on the back of his drugs scandals. Would he risk those? He was brutal in his KO demolition of lanky Brit David Price on the Parker-Joshua undercard but got wobbled himself too. His one loss was to Wladimir Klitschko so he has credentials. Size and style-wise it's a good match-up for Parker but the Kiwi would want to fight him in the UK, not Russia.
Jarrell Miller (US) – He's No 3 with both the WBA and WBO, so Duco connections might be able to sort this. He's long been calling out the champs and a chance to prove his worth against Parker could be a temptation and a key for him to get a crack at the big time. He's big and powerful but nothing that Parker couldn't handle. Those rankings make him tempting. Hearn isn't adverse to having top-flight international fights on his undercards in Britain or Arum could probably help arrange this in the US.
Dominic Breazeale (US) – He's No 2 with the WBC and WBO and No 6 with the IBF so he has value. He was KO'd in seven by Joshua in his world title challenge and that's his only loss. At 32 he's right in his prime.
Bryant Jennings (US) – He's on Arum's books and the veteran promoter has repeatedly talked of this fight. He could make it in a heartbeat if it made sense to Parker. He's on the comeback trail with three wins after a two-year hiatus. He's No 8 with the WBO and No 13 with the WBA, so he has rankings to help Parker's cause without too much risk. At 33, Jennings would see this as an opportunity to really test his credentials.
LIke Joseph Parker, Luis Ortiz is dealing with the first loss of his career.
Luis Ortiz (Cuba) – Like Parker, the heavy-handed Ortiz is coming off the first loss of his career, KO'd late in a slugfestwith Wilder. He's 39 and big pay days are disappearing over the horizon. This would be a marketable fight and Ortiz is not long off the books of Hearn so he could have his arm twisted to venture to the UK where he has fought just once before.
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT RANKINGS
WBC
Champion – Deontay Wilder
1. Dillian Whyte
2. Dominic Breazeale
3. Luis Ortiz
4. Alexander Povetkin
5. Kubrat Pulev
6. Tony Bellew
7. Johann Duhaupas
8. Charles Martin
9. Adam Kownacki
10. Agit Kabayel
11. Oscar Rivas
12. Carlos Takam
13. Lucas Browne
14. Dereck Chisora
15. Bermane Stiverne