Five potential opponents for Joseph Parker in 2020 as he looks to revive flagging career
OPINION: From a sporting perspective, 2019 has been nothing short of a disaster for Joseph Parker.
This was supposed to be the year the Kiwi heavyweight got his career back on track after losing his world title and suffering successive defeats in the previous 12 months.
But if anything it's been an even more of an annus horribilis, with Parker managing just one outing – a laboured 10th-round TKO of Alex Leapai – after a spider bite ruled him out of a high-profile meeting with Dereck Chisora in London in October.
Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker has endured a tough 12 months and is desperate for more fights in 2020.
It was a cruel blow for the Aucklander and his team, who had hoped an impressive win over the resurgent Brit would catapult them into world title contention.
Parker immediately called for the bout to be rescheduled for February, and things initially looked promising when Chisora reciprocated in the aftermath of his four-round destruction of late replacement David Price.
But since then Chisora's camp have switched their attentions to Ukrainian star Oleksandr Usyk and a potential shot at the WBO belt, much to the Kiwi's chagrin.
A frustrated Parker lashed out at Chisora on Twitter, vowing to "end his career", while his manager David Higgins tried to lure the veteran into the ring by accusing him of seeking a "retirement fight" against the highly touted Usyk.
Time will tell if this tactic works, but here are five alternative opponents Parker could face in the new year should the Chisora clash fall through.
American Michael Hunter looms as a potential opponent, provided he can get past Alexander Povetkin first.
Michael Hunter (18-1, 12 KOs)
A slick boxer with fast hands and quick feet, Hunter has been on a tear since moving up from the cruiserweight division last year following his first professional loss to Usyk.
Since that setback, 'The Bounty' has chalked up six straight victories, including impressive stoppages of the previously undefeated Martin Bakole and David Tua's conqueror Alexander Ustinov.
Hunter's reward for a fine run of form is a place on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's unification rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia on December 7, where he will face Alexander Povetkin.
Should Hunter come through that stiff test unscathed his stocks will go through the roof and a clash with someone of Parker's calibre might be the only thing standing in the way of a world title opportunity.
In theory, the fight should be easy to make given that Parker and Hunter share the same promoter in Matchroom supremo Eddie Hearn, but Parker's camp may conclude that the risks outweigh the rewards with Hunter still a relative unknown.
If Povetkin were to pull off a minor upset over Hunter in Diriyah then the Russian slugger would be another viable option for Parker.
Martin Bakole is another heavyweight in Eddie Hearn's Matchroom stable looking to make moves in 2020.
Martin Bakole (15-1, 12 KOs)
Another heavyweight contender on Hearn's books, the hard-punching Bakole has bounced back well from his TKO defeat to Hunter in London last October.
A regular sparring partner of Joshua, Bakole has been talked up as a future world title challenger and Hearn is keen to move the 6ft 6in prospect along quickly.
After his stoppage victory over the notoriously durable Kevin Johnson in October, Hearn told iFLTV Bakole was "ready" to face any heavyweight looking for an opponent, name dropping Parker among a list of potential targets.
Whether Parker would be willing to risk it all against a fighter with limited name recognition outside the UK is unclear, but Bakole is a credible adversary.
Bakole doesn't have another fight scheduled as yet having blown away American journeyman Rodney Hernandez inside two rounds last month. He would surely jump at the chance to test himself against Parker early next year.
Colombian contender Oscar Rivas hasn't fought since a points loss to Dillian Whyte and would be a stiff test.
Oscar Rivas (25-1, 18 KOs)
Not seen in the ring since a competitive points defeat to Dillian Whyte in July, Colombia's Rivas will be searching for a suitable dance partner in the new year to work his way back up the heavyweight ladder.
The South American is reportedly close to signing a long-term deal with Matchroom that would make a potential showdown with Parker easier to make.
A 2008 Olympian with a strong amateur pedigree, the muscular Rivas packs a significant punch, stopping 18 of his 27 opponents. Like Parker, he sent Whyte to the canvas but couldn't find the killer blow.
It would certainly be a risky fight for Parker but the Kiwi badly needs an eye-catching win on his resume after underwhelming victories over Alexander Flores and Leapai in his last two outings.
Beating a fighter of Rivas' stature would do the trick and reaffirm Parker's credentials as one of the world's top heavyweights.
Junior Fa defeated compatriot Joseph Parker twice in the amateurs and remains unbeaten as a professional.
Junior Fa (19-0, 10 KOs)
Parker's fellow New Zealander Fa remains unbeaten in the professional ranks – but only just.
The Papakura native showed worrying vulnerability against tricky veteran Dominick Guinn in June, suffering a heavy knockdown in the fourth round as he ground out an unconvincing unanimous decision.
Having seen off another US journeyman, Devin Vargas, without too much trouble last month, it's time for the 30-year-old Fa to step up and face a top-level opponent – why not his amateur rival Parker?
The pair famously split their four bouts in the unpaid ranks so the fight would be an easy sell to the New Zealand public as they look to settle their rivalry once and for all.
Parker's trainer Kevin Barry may dismiss Fa's credentials but the fight seems destined to happen at some point and makes most sense while he is still undefeated and thus more marketable.
The main stumbling block could be stumping up the cash to stage it in New Zealand.
Red-hot British prospect Daniel Dubois recently threw his hat in the ring to face Joseph Parker next year.
Daniel Dubois (13-0, 12 KOs)
One of boxing's brightest young talents, Dubois recently threw his name in the hat to face Parker after hearing of the Kiwi's frustration over a lack of activity with Matchroom.
The heavy-handed Englishman has knocked out all but one of his 13 opponents since turning professional in April 2017 and is viewed as a future world champion by many boxing pundits.
Standing 6ft 5in tall with a muscular physique likened to compatriot Frank Bruno, the 22-year-old Dubois showed there's more to his game than just power when he took apart fellow prospect Nathan Gorman in clinical fashion in July.
Dubois' handlers are looking to test him against world-level opposition in 2020 assuming he overcomes longtime Parker target Kyotaro Fujimoto as expected later this month.
However, a potential showdown with Parker might be difficult to arrange given that Dubois is signed with British promoter Frank Warren, who generally avoids doing business with his bitter rival Hearn.
Parker would also likely demand a handsome pay day for such a dangerous assignment.
OPINION: From a sporting perspective, 2019 has been nothing short of a disaster for Joseph Parker.
This was supposed to be the year the Kiwi heavyweight got his career back on track after losing his world title and suffering successive defeats in the previous 12 months.
But if anything it's been an even more of an annus horribilis, with Parker managing just one outing – a laboured 10th-round TKO of Alex Leapai – after a spider bite ruled him out of a high-profile meeting with Dereck Chisora in London in October.
Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker has endured a tough 12 months and is desperate for more fights in 2020.
It was a cruel blow for the Aucklander and his team, who had hoped an impressive win over the resurgent Brit would catapult them into world title contention.
Parker immediately called for the bout to be rescheduled for February, and things initially looked promising when Chisora reciprocated in the aftermath of his four-round destruction of late replacement David Price.
But since then Chisora's camp have switched their attentions to Ukrainian star Oleksandr Usyk and a potential shot at the WBO belt, much to the Kiwi's chagrin.
A frustrated Parker lashed out at Chisora on Twitter, vowing to "end his career", while his manager David Higgins tried to lure the veteran into the ring by accusing him of seeking a "retirement fight" against the highly touted Usyk.
Time will tell if this tactic works, but here are five alternative opponents Parker could face in the new year should the Chisora clash fall through.
American Michael Hunter looms as a potential opponent, provided he can get past Alexander Povetkin first.
Michael Hunter (18-1, 12 KOs)
A slick boxer with fast hands and quick feet, Hunter has been on a tear since moving up from the cruiserweight division last year following his first professional loss to Usyk.
Since that setback, 'The Bounty' has chalked up six straight victories, including impressive stoppages of the previously undefeated Martin Bakole and David Tua's conqueror Alexander Ustinov.
Hunter's reward for a fine run of form is a place on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's unification rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia on December 7, where he will face Alexander Povetkin.
Should Hunter come through that stiff test unscathed his stocks will go through the roof and a clash with someone of Parker's calibre might be the only thing standing in the way of a world title opportunity.
In theory, the fight should be easy to make given that Parker and Hunter share the same promoter in Matchroom supremo Eddie Hearn, but Parker's camp may conclude that the risks outweigh the rewards with Hunter still a relative unknown.
If Povetkin were to pull off a minor upset over Hunter in Diriyah then the Russian slugger would be another viable option for Parker.
Martin Bakole is another heavyweight in Eddie Hearn's Matchroom stable looking to make moves in 2020.
Martin Bakole (15-1, 12 KOs)
Another heavyweight contender on Hearn's books, the hard-punching Bakole has bounced back well from his TKO defeat to Hunter in London last October.
A regular sparring partner of Joshua, Bakole has been talked up as a future world title challenger and Hearn is keen to move the 6ft 6in prospect along quickly.
After his stoppage victory over the notoriously durable Kevin Johnson in October, Hearn told iFLTV Bakole was "ready" to face any heavyweight looking for an opponent, name dropping Parker among a list of potential targets.
Whether Parker would be willing to risk it all against a fighter with limited name recognition outside the UK is unclear, but Bakole is a credible adversary.
Bakole doesn't have another fight scheduled as yet having blown away American journeyman Rodney Hernandez inside two rounds last month. He would surely jump at the chance to test himself against Parker early next year.
Colombian contender Oscar Rivas hasn't fought since a points loss to Dillian Whyte and would be a stiff test.
Oscar Rivas (25-1, 18 KOs)
Not seen in the ring since a competitive points defeat to Dillian Whyte in July, Colombia's Rivas will be searching for a suitable dance partner in the new year to work his way back up the heavyweight ladder.
The South American is reportedly close to signing a long-term deal with Matchroom that would make a potential showdown with Parker easier to make.
A 2008 Olympian with a strong amateur pedigree, the muscular Rivas packs a significant punch, stopping 18 of his 27 opponents. Like Parker, he sent Whyte to the canvas but couldn't find the killer blow.
It would certainly be a risky fight for Parker but the Kiwi badly needs an eye-catching win on his resume after underwhelming victories over Alexander Flores and Leapai in his last two outings.
Beating a fighter of Rivas' stature would do the trick and reaffirm Parker's credentials as one of the world's top heavyweights.
Junior Fa defeated compatriot Joseph Parker twice in the amateurs and remains unbeaten as a professional.
Junior Fa (19-0, 10 KOs)
Parker's fellow New Zealander Fa remains unbeaten in the professional ranks – but only just.
The Papakura native showed worrying vulnerability against tricky veteran Dominick Guinn in June, suffering a heavy knockdown in the fourth round as he ground out an unconvincing unanimous decision.
Having seen off another US journeyman, Devin Vargas, without too much trouble last month, it's time for the 30-year-old Fa to step up and face a top-level opponent – why not his amateur rival Parker?
The pair famously split their four bouts in the unpaid ranks so the fight would be an easy sell to the New Zealand public as they look to settle their rivalry once and for all.
Parker's trainer Kevin Barry may dismiss Fa's credentials but the fight seems destined to happen at some point and makes most sense while he is still undefeated and thus more marketable.
The main stumbling block could be stumping up the cash to stage it in New Zealand.
Red-hot British prospect Daniel Dubois recently threw his hat in the ring to face Joseph Parker next year.
Daniel Dubois (13-0, 12 KOs)
One of boxing's brightest young talents, Dubois recently threw his name in the hat to face Parker after hearing of the Kiwi's frustration over a lack of activity with Matchroom.
The heavy-handed Englishman has knocked out all but one of his 13 opponents since turning professional in April 2017 and is viewed as a future world champion by many boxing pundits.
Standing 6ft 5in tall with a muscular physique likened to compatriot Frank Bruno, the 22-year-old Dubois showed there's more to his game than just power when he took apart fellow prospect Nathan Gorman in clinical fashion in July.
Dubois' handlers are looking to test him against world-level opposition in 2020 assuming he overcomes longtime Parker target Kyotaro Fujimoto as expected later this month.
However, a potential showdown with Parker might be difficult to arrange given that Dubois is signed with British promoter Frank Warren, who generally avoids doing business with his bitter rival Hearn.
Parker would also likely demand a handsome pay day for such a dangerous assignment.