01-02-2024, 01:21 PM
Promoter says Joseph Parker 'could win' if he gets to fight world champion Oleksandr Usyk
Stuff sports reporters
10:48, Jan 02 2024
Joseph Parker’s promoter David Higgins says the Kiwi heavyweight would jump at a chance to fight world champion Oleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua.
Higgins told England’s Sky Sports News that Parker’s star is on the rise after his unanimous points victory over Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia in December.
While Parker would fight Joseph “in a heartbeat’’ and had earned the right to that fight, Higgins admitted that was no foregone conclusion.
“Everyone knows Joseph will fight him next but I am not sure that's an option. We'll obviously look at any option and see what comes forward,” Higgins told Sky Sports.
Higgins confirmed Parker would also be keen at some stage to fight Usyk, who will put his WBO, IBF and WBA belts on the line against Parker’s friend and sometime sparring partner Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia on February 17.
"If the [Usyk] fight came up, I'm sure Joseph would jump at the opportunity, it would be a great fight and yes I think he could win the fight." Higgins said.
"He [Parker] is feeling satisfied with it all coming together, a complete performance under the highest pressure, he deserves to be proud.
"His doubters and the people writing him off, he's certainly shut that crowd up. In New Zealand, the leading newspapers said he is back and he's got another run at a world title."
As for the chances of a re-match against Joshua – who outpointed Parker in Cardiff in 2018 – Higgins said: "Joseph has earned that fight in my opinion and the Saudis would see merit in Parker against Anthony Joshua," Parker's promoter David Higgins told Sky Sports.
"It might not be next, there might be a bit more work to do but I think that's the fight fans want to see. It's a merit-based fight.
”Maybe Joseph, especially after the way he handled his business with Wilder, is probably seen as high risk."
Higgins said he could not speak for Joshua’s team, “but they are probably trying to rebuild to a point and have a big fight against the likes of Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk."
Higgins said Parker would “fight anyone’’, and if you look at all the names on his resume from Derek Chisora twice, Joe Joyce, Joshua, Wilder, Dillian Whyte, the list goes on and he's still only 31-years-old.”
He admitted Parker had “come up short’’ a couple of times in earlier fights, but the Wilder win was the best performance of Joseph's career”.
"This time he maintained a cool head, was patient, showed intent, stuck to the fight plan, withstood the pressure. He didn't just win but dominated Wilder."
Stuff sports reporters
10:48, Jan 02 2024
Joseph Parker’s promoter David Higgins says the Kiwi heavyweight would jump at a chance to fight world champion Oleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua.
Higgins told England’s Sky Sports News that Parker’s star is on the rise after his unanimous points victory over Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia in December.
While Parker would fight Joseph “in a heartbeat’’ and had earned the right to that fight, Higgins admitted that was no foregone conclusion.
“Everyone knows Joseph will fight him next but I am not sure that's an option. We'll obviously look at any option and see what comes forward,” Higgins told Sky Sports.
Higgins confirmed Parker would also be keen at some stage to fight Usyk, who will put his WBO, IBF and WBA belts on the line against Parker’s friend and sometime sparring partner Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia on February 17.
"If the [Usyk] fight came up, I'm sure Joseph would jump at the opportunity, it would be a great fight and yes I think he could win the fight." Higgins said.
"He [Parker] is feeling satisfied with it all coming together, a complete performance under the highest pressure, he deserves to be proud.
"His doubters and the people writing him off, he's certainly shut that crowd up. In New Zealand, the leading newspapers said he is back and he's got another run at a world title."
As for the chances of a re-match against Joshua – who outpointed Parker in Cardiff in 2018 – Higgins said: "Joseph has earned that fight in my opinion and the Saudis would see merit in Parker against Anthony Joshua," Parker's promoter David Higgins told Sky Sports.
"It might not be next, there might be a bit more work to do but I think that's the fight fans want to see. It's a merit-based fight.
”Maybe Joseph, especially after the way he handled his business with Wilder, is probably seen as high risk."
Higgins said he could not speak for Joshua’s team, “but they are probably trying to rebuild to a point and have a big fight against the likes of Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk."
Higgins said Parker would “fight anyone’’, and if you look at all the names on his resume from Derek Chisora twice, Joe Joyce, Joshua, Wilder, Dillian Whyte, the list goes on and he's still only 31-years-old.”
He admitted Parker had “come up short’’ a couple of times in earlier fights, but the Wilder win was the best performance of Joseph's career”.
"This time he maintained a cool head, was patient, showed intent, stuck to the fight plan, withstood the pressure. He didn't just win but dominated Wilder."