06-05-2017, 11:49 AM
Bellew: I'll Be Back in November or December - I Prefer Parker
Tony Bellew (29-2-1, 19 KOs) is looking at three different options for his next fight - but says WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker is the option he would want most.
The other two options include WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and former two division king David Haye.
Bellew has been out of the ring since March, when he dropped his WBC cruiserweight belt for a move to the heavyweight division to secure a shocking eleven round stoppage over Haye at the O2 Arena in London.
Bellew suffered hand injuries in the win over Haye, but says he should be fully recovered in time to make a fight in November or December.
The problem right now with securing Parker is the WBO's mandatory obligation still hanging overhead with Hughie Fury.
Parker vs. Fury was scheduled to take place last month, but Fury withdrew with a back injury. Parker instead won a lopsided decision over late-replacement Razvan Cojanu. There is still no date announced for the Fury defense - and the unbeaten British boxer still has an ongoing problem with drug testing agency UKAD - who claim the boxer tested positive for a banned substance in early 2015.
Wilder has a mandatory obligation, with the World Boxing Council ordering him to make a mandatory defense against Bermane Stiverne. Wilder already dominated Stiverne over twelve rounds in January 2015 to capture the WBC belt.
"Before the year is out, I'll be back in November or December. It's [Haye] or Parker. Wilder is still out there and I've put out a tweet to put him straight after that video that I've seen him do. It's between the three of them, it's definitely between the three of them, without a doubt," Bellew told Sky Sports.
"There is unfinished business with Haye, but in all honesty, I love the thought of becoming heavyweight champion of the world, so my preference will be Parker."
Tony Bellew (29-2-1, 19 KOs) is looking at three different options for his next fight - but says WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker is the option he would want most.
The other two options include WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and former two division king David Haye.
Bellew has been out of the ring since March, when he dropped his WBC cruiserweight belt for a move to the heavyweight division to secure a shocking eleven round stoppage over Haye at the O2 Arena in London.
Bellew suffered hand injuries in the win over Haye, but says he should be fully recovered in time to make a fight in November or December.
The problem right now with securing Parker is the WBO's mandatory obligation still hanging overhead with Hughie Fury.
Parker vs. Fury was scheduled to take place last month, but Fury withdrew with a back injury. Parker instead won a lopsided decision over late-replacement Razvan Cojanu. There is still no date announced for the Fury defense - and the unbeaten British boxer still has an ongoing problem with drug testing agency UKAD - who claim the boxer tested positive for a banned substance in early 2015.
Wilder has a mandatory obligation, with the World Boxing Council ordering him to make a mandatory defense against Bermane Stiverne. Wilder already dominated Stiverne over twelve rounds in January 2015 to capture the WBC belt.
"Before the year is out, I'll be back in November or December. It's [Haye] or Parker. Wilder is still out there and I've put out a tweet to put him straight after that video that I've seen him do. It's between the three of them, it's definitely between the three of them, without a doubt," Bellew told Sky Sports.
"There is unfinished business with Haye, but in all honesty, I love the thought of becoming heavyweight champion of the world, so my preference will be Parker."