Joseph Parker

[diehard]

This is for kiwi--and others:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/combat-sports/117930777/joseph-parkers-five-best-fights-are-a-recipe-for-his-return-to-glory

[bart]

Just announced by Higgins JP is booked for Feb in US, opponent not named.

[diehard]

Joseph Parker set for February fight return in United States
08:22, Jan 04 2020

New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker will fly out to the United States shortly to prepare for a fight in America in February.

Details of the much-needed fight for the former WBO champion are being finalised by his British promoter Eddie Hearn.

"There are concrete plans, which it's not my place to announce," Parker's manager David Higgins told Sky Sports.

Joseph Parker will link up with trainer Kevin Barry to prepare for his next fight.

"We've been told it will be late February and the United States is what we're told. We're just waiting on who the opponent is."

Parker had a frustrating 2019 with just one fight, a win over Australian Alex Leapai in the first of a three-fight, multi-million dollar deal with Hearn's Matchroom Boxing.

Plans for a high-profile London fight against Britain's Dereck Chisora fell over when Parker was laid low by a spider bite.

He desperately needs a good win over a respected opponent to get himself back into the world title reckoning in a division that has Anthony Joshua back in charge with three of the four main belts and American Deontay Wilder holding the other.

Somehow Parker has not only managed to keep decent rankings with the major organisations, he has just been placed at No 2 by the WBO which puts him in a strong position to get a title shot.

Higgins is confident a good opponent will be placed in front of Parker for this US fight.

"It will be someone decent. Joe had a good win over Alex Leapai who fought (Wladimir) Klitschko for a world title, and he won convincingly," Higgins told Sky Sports.

"It's another step-up. He's ranked at two now by the WBO, so it's basically another step towards a better opponent and then after that, should he get a good win, which I think he will, then challenge one of the big boys - Wilder, Fury.

"Joe will fight anyone."

Stuff

[mippy]

Being the US probably excludes Chisora. Maybe Usyk?

[bart]

Def Chisora out- his only market to make $$ is London
It won't be a top 10 close but .. Bryant Jennings type
The 3rd fight will be Usyk for a title, so hopefully for EH he can make some cash off JP

[diehard]

When Mr Higgins said it will be "someone decent, and they're waiting to announce an opponent," that's not music to my ears. Sounds like it's a Leapai level fighter, with the fight after that the significant one. Maybe Usyk. Remember, Parker hasn't fought in a year, so he needs a tune-up.

[African Monkey]

Maybe Michael Hunter? He's always willing to fight at any time and is signed to Hearn, otherwise it's bound to be another tune up. Wouldn't suprise me if it's Browne who has said that he's looking to cash out in the UK/US before retiring (I really hope it isn't).

[diehard]

A Browne fight would be in OZ or NZ.  But you could be right about Michael Hunter.  After drawing in the Povetkin fight, he'd be an excellent opponent, and a prelude to Usyk as they have similar styles in that they are boxers and not big heavyweights.  Hunter is ranked WBO #7, so it's the right alphabet for Parker also.  Truth be told, I don't rate Usyk higher than Hunter, except that he's higher ranked.  Usyk DID beat Hunter at cruiser, but it was a UD.  

[African Monkey]

(01-04-2020, 05:31 PM)diehard Wrote: A Browne fight would be in OZ or NZ.  But you could be right about Michael Hunter.  After drawing in the Povetkin fight, he'd be an excellent opponent, and a prelude to Usyk as they have similar styles in that they are boxers and not big heavyweights.  Hunter is ranked WBO #7, so it's the right alphabet for Parker also.  Truth be told, I don't rate Usyk higher than Hunter, except that he's higher ranked.  Usyk DID beat Hunter at cruiser, but it was a UD.  

Browne doesn't wanna fight in this part of the world anymore, and Parker's last fight was against an Aussie/Samoan in the USA so I don't see why they wouldn't put Parker v Browne in the US it they were to fight.

Usyk Beat Hunter comfortably though truth be told. The win is made to look better now that Hunter has given the HWs a fair bit of trouble, and I had Hunter beating Povetkin last time out.

But yeah, can't see it being more than a tune up and Parker has a high ranking with the WBO so why risk it?

[diehard]

If it is Hunter, and I hope it is, I can see him giving Parker trouble. I think it'll be more than a tune-up, in thinking about it. Parker is no better than Povetkin, and Hunter arguably might have won that fight, as you say. It was close. I've only seen Usyk fight once, against Witherspoon, who looked old and rusty, and Usyk didn't dominate him until the middle rounds. It would be a good fight for Hunter, as he'll climb in the rankings if he beats Parker, and after drawing Povetkin, he'd be on the rise.