(11-27-2019, 12:19 PM)diehard Wrote: [ -> ]Markk, what does "extended" mean? You mean, in terms of when the 3 fights need to be completed? I think Parker is screwed from what you said above. Eddie will use Parker pulling out and not fighting but once in 2019 as a reason to screw him over. Truth be told, Parker did it to himself by deciding to take a long vacation.
Just looked up Parker's agreement with Hearn. Three years for $6 million. Can't see Parker getting that money unless he fights top opposition in the UK: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/combat-sports/113142999/joseph-parker-signs-with-british-promoter-eddie-hearn-for-6m-threefight-deal
its estimated at 6 million based off nz tv from what I believe. the tv numbers don't stack at moment so you could easily find its a 1.5 million deal. 3 fights 3 years. not that much action and I understand duck will n to be promoting anymore so may not be the best deal in the world
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.
Read on Twitter that Parker will fight in the US on Feb 23, anyone know any details?
Joseph Parker eyes a long shot at WBO heavyweight title
Duncan Johnstone
Joseph Parker's management have put heat on the WBO to push the Kiwi heavyweight's cause for another world title fight.
Parker's manager David Higgins attended the WBO's annual convention in Tokyo to remind the authority of the former heavyweight's credentials, especially in the current volatile state of the division.
"Joseph Parker remains the only man to beat your champ Andy Ruiz," Higgins told the WBO championship and ratings committee.
"He's very grateful to the WBO and would like to challenge for the WBO title should [Tyson] Fury move out. He'd like to move up to No.3."
There's a theory currently doing the rounds that Parker, so idle in 2019, could be a major benefactor in 2020.
Joseph Parker wants to get his hands back on the WBO belt.
But the 27-year-old, who held the WBO belt from December 2016 when he beat Ruiz in Auckland, until March 2018 when he lost to Anthony Joshua in Cardiff, needs a fair few cards to fall his way.
All eyes are on the rematch between WBO, IBF and WBA champion Ruiz and Joshua in Saudi Arabia on Sunday (NZT).
The winner of that will under instant pressure to undertake mandatory defences of both the WBO and IBF belts.
If the winning fighter in Saudi decides to vacate the WBO belt and go down the IBF route, Parker could step up.
Parker has worked his way back to No 4 on the WBO rankings.
He sits behind Joshua, Fury and untested Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk who has surprisingly leaped into the No 1 position.
Fury has a looming rematch with Deontay Wilder for the WBC belt that might take him out of the WBO equation.
That would set up the chance of Parker taking on Usyk, a cruiserweight superstar who has stepped up to heavyweight, for the vacant WBO belt.
"If the belt becomes vacant, he would like to raise his hand and fight Usyk for the vacant title," Higgins said.
Parker is desperate for a fight. He has returned to Auckland from Las Vegas and is keeping fit, willing to be able to jump at any opportunity.
He still has two fights left on his lucrative three-fight deal with British promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing.
Hearn also felt that parker, rather than Dereck Chisora, could end up fighting Usyk.
"It's possible that WBO title could vacate and as I said at the conference, if that title vacates, then Joseph Parker is possibly the next available ranked fighter and could challenge Usyk to fight off for the vacant title," hearn told Sky Sports in the UK.
"If you recall, that's how Joseph won the heavyweight title, fighting off against Ruiz. History might repeat.
"If the cards fall the right way, we could potentially have Parker challenging again for a world title, as soon as next year perhaps."
Even if Ruiz beats Joshua and sticks with the WBO, Parker has a worthy challenge to offer given his history with the mexican-American.
Ruiz, the surprise winner over Joshua in New York in June, has spoken of his hopes to avenge that loss to Parker at some stage.
The result from Auckland still grates on Ruiz who is adamant he won what was undoubtedly a close fight that saw the judges hand Parker a majority points decision.
Parker is also ranked No 8 with the WBC and No 11 with the IBF.
Fellow Kiwi heavyweight Junior Fa is No 7 with the WBO.
China's Zhilei Zhang (21-0, 16 KOs) is pushing for a fight with Fa (19-0, 10 KOs).
Wow, that's some very wishful thinking above!
Ideally I would like to see JP bt Chisora well - then move on to poss title fights or eliminators
(12-07-2019, 05:21 AM)tm7 Wrote: [ -> ]Read on Twitter that Parker will fight in the US on Feb 23, anyone know any details?
How credible was the twitter post?
(12-07-2019, 04:37 PM)justafan Wrote: [ -> ] (12-07-2019, 05:21 AM)tm7 Wrote: [ -> ]Read on Twitter that Parker will fight in the US on Feb 23, anyone know any details?
How credible was the twitter post?
Johnstone is Mr Higgins PR machine, and if he wrote the article with possible opponents, I doubt if it's set. However, I do believe that he got it right with possible opponents for Joe, especially given that some of them are with Matchroom.
The Twitter post was from Michael Bennson who is the UK’s Talksport boxing reporter. He’s very credible and usually bang on.
Someone on here earlier said Hearn was gonna put on a heavyweight gig in February. Maybe that's it.