01-10-2020, 10:39 AM
Joseph Parker keen to fight dangerous Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk
09:15, Jan 10 2020
Joseph Parker is eager to fight dangerous Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk if the WBO world heavyweight title is at stake.
Parker is in Las Vegas training for his next fight, a February 29 bout in Texas against a yet-to-be named opponent.
But the increasing talk of a fight with Usyk, a deadly cruiserweight and pound-for-pound star now looking to make his mark in the heavyweight ranks, hasn't escaped Parker who this week celebrated his 28th birthday.
New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker is excited to be returning to action in the United States in February.
A title fight with Usyk will only happen if Anthony Joshua is forced to vacate his WBO belt as he gets burdened by mandatory challengers after snaring three of the four titles with his revenge win against Andy Ruiz Jr.
As the WBO's next two ranked boxers, Usyk and Parker would belt it out for the coveted belt.
"I'd love the opportunity to fight Usyk. He's a top fighter with good skills, good movement and I'd love to test my skills against him if it's for the world title," Parker told Helen Yee Sports during a break in training in Vegas.
"There's a lot of things that need to happen … but if the opportunity arose, I'd take it with both hands."
Asked if he expected Joshua to free up the WBO belt, Parker said: "You never know, I just have to be patient and see what happens. I think they might but you never know with boxing, things change just like that."
Usyk made an unspectacular heavyweight debut when he beat American journeyman Chazz Witherspoon last October though Parker wasn't reading too much into that.
"I don't think it was the best that he has shown but maybe it was a good welcoming fight to the heavyweight division and adjusting to the weight. He got the win which is the main thing and he will improve," Parker told Helen Yee Sports.
Parker declared himself fit, ready and eager for his next fight despite the uncertainty over his opponent as his British promoter Eddie Hearn looks for someone willing to tangle with the former WBO champion.
Parker felt he had entered camp "at a good level" after keeping in shape in New Zealand and Samoa over Christmas. He also insisted he was completely recovered from the suspected spider bite that forced him to pull out of a fight against Dereck Chisora last October.
"I've recovered 100 per cent and I'm ready for the next challenge. I'm excited because I haven't been in the ring since June."
Parker had just one fight in 2019, a TKO victory over Australian Alex Leapai in the United States in the first of the three-fight deal with Hearn.
Interest now centres on who Hearn can find to take on the respected Parker on a quality card for the February 29 promotion in Frisco, just north of Dallas, that is headlined by a welterweight fight between former four-division champion Mikey Garcia and former two-division champion Jessie Vargas.
The card also has WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez defending his title against Jay Harris.
Stuff
09:15, Jan 10 2020
Joseph Parker is eager to fight dangerous Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk if the WBO world heavyweight title is at stake.
Parker is in Las Vegas training for his next fight, a February 29 bout in Texas against a yet-to-be named opponent.
But the increasing talk of a fight with Usyk, a deadly cruiserweight and pound-for-pound star now looking to make his mark in the heavyweight ranks, hasn't escaped Parker who this week celebrated his 28th birthday.
New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker is excited to be returning to action in the United States in February.
A title fight with Usyk will only happen if Anthony Joshua is forced to vacate his WBO belt as he gets burdened by mandatory challengers after snaring three of the four titles with his revenge win against Andy Ruiz Jr.
As the WBO's next two ranked boxers, Usyk and Parker would belt it out for the coveted belt.
"I'd love the opportunity to fight Usyk. He's a top fighter with good skills, good movement and I'd love to test my skills against him if it's for the world title," Parker told Helen Yee Sports during a break in training in Vegas.
"There's a lot of things that need to happen … but if the opportunity arose, I'd take it with both hands."
Asked if he expected Joshua to free up the WBO belt, Parker said: "You never know, I just have to be patient and see what happens. I think they might but you never know with boxing, things change just like that."
Usyk made an unspectacular heavyweight debut when he beat American journeyman Chazz Witherspoon last October though Parker wasn't reading too much into that.
"I don't think it was the best that he has shown but maybe it was a good welcoming fight to the heavyweight division and adjusting to the weight. He got the win which is the main thing and he will improve," Parker told Helen Yee Sports.
Parker declared himself fit, ready and eager for his next fight despite the uncertainty over his opponent as his British promoter Eddie Hearn looks for someone willing to tangle with the former WBO champion.
Parker felt he had entered camp "at a good level" after keeping in shape in New Zealand and Samoa over Christmas. He also insisted he was completely recovered from the suspected spider bite that forced him to pull out of a fight against Dereck Chisora last October.
"I've recovered 100 per cent and I'm ready for the next challenge. I'm excited because I haven't been in the ring since June."
Parker had just one fight in 2019, a TKO victory over Australian Alex Leapai in the United States in the first of the three-fight deal with Hearn.
Interest now centres on who Hearn can find to take on the respected Parker on a quality card for the February 29 promotion in Frisco, just north of Dallas, that is headlined by a welterweight fight between former four-division champion Mikey Garcia and former two-division champion Jessie Vargas.
The card also has WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez defending his title against Jay Harris.
Stuff