03-18-2020, 09:44 AM
Rankings reward for New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker
Duncan Johnstone
Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker looks slick in training as he prepares for a big year.
Joseph Parker's recent win has resulted in a decent rankings lift for the New Zealand heavyweight.
Parker recorded an impressive TKO victory over North American champion Shawndell Winters in Texas on March 1.
The various organisations have reacted positively to his first effort of 2020.
Parker has lifted three places with the IBF to be ranked No 9 there. He also went up one place to No 6 on the WBC's updated rankings.
Winters, who was ranked No 14 by the WBA, has disappeared off their top 15 following his humbling loss to Parker inside five rounds.
Parker's win will also have preserved his crucial No 2 ranking with the WBO where he sits behind Ukrainian star Oleksandr Usyk and their champion Anthony Joshua.
With pressure on Joshua to defend or vacate the WBO belt, Parker is well placed to have another crack at that organisation's title which he held from 2016-18.
On the independent rankings, Parker is at No 7 with the respected Ring magazine and up one place to No 12 at Boxrec.
Parker is eager to press on now and stay active after such a flat 2019 that saw him fight just once.
But, with his fitness looking good and his confidence boosted by his show-reel demolition of Winters, the coronavirus pandemic is now his biggest handbrake with restrictions over major sporting events around the world placing huge question marks over agreed and potential fights.
Parker's busy British promoter Eddie Hearn is already scratching his head at how he will manage a backlog of fighters who will have their schedules affected.
He has had to postpone three major British promotions involving international fighters, including the Newcastle event that features New Zealand's WBO women's light-heavyweight champion Geovana Peres defending her title against England's Savannah Marshall. That is now due to be held on June 27.
There is talk of Parker taking on fellow Kiwi Junior, the WBO No 6, in a mid-year local derby that would help launch digital broadcaster's DAZN arrival in New Zealand.
But the planning of any events right now is fraught with problems given the uncertainties around health and safety issues.
Stuff
Duncan Johnstone
Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker looks slick in training as he prepares for a big year.
Joseph Parker's recent win has resulted in a decent rankings lift for the New Zealand heavyweight.
Parker recorded an impressive TKO victory over North American champion Shawndell Winters in Texas on March 1.
The various organisations have reacted positively to his first effort of 2020.
Parker has lifted three places with the IBF to be ranked No 9 there. He also went up one place to No 6 on the WBC's updated rankings.
Winters, who was ranked No 14 by the WBA, has disappeared off their top 15 following his humbling loss to Parker inside five rounds.
Parker's win will also have preserved his crucial No 2 ranking with the WBO where he sits behind Ukrainian star Oleksandr Usyk and their champion Anthony Joshua.
With pressure on Joshua to defend or vacate the WBO belt, Parker is well placed to have another crack at that organisation's title which he held from 2016-18.
On the independent rankings, Parker is at No 7 with the respected Ring magazine and up one place to No 12 at Boxrec.
Parker is eager to press on now and stay active after such a flat 2019 that saw him fight just once.
But, with his fitness looking good and his confidence boosted by his show-reel demolition of Winters, the coronavirus pandemic is now his biggest handbrake with restrictions over major sporting events around the world placing huge question marks over agreed and potential fights.
Parker's busy British promoter Eddie Hearn is already scratching his head at how he will manage a backlog of fighters who will have their schedules affected.
He has had to postpone three major British promotions involving international fighters, including the Newcastle event that features New Zealand's WBO women's light-heavyweight champion Geovana Peres defending her title against England's Savannah Marshall. That is now due to be held on June 27.
There is talk of Parker taking on fellow Kiwi Junior, the WBO No 6, in a mid-year local derby that would help launch digital broadcaster's DAZN arrival in New Zealand.
But the planning of any events right now is fraught with problems given the uncertainties around health and safety issues.
Stuff