Tag: joseph parker

Joseph Parker hopes to put bite on Shawndell Winters on Feb. 29

Heavyweight Joseph Parker is scheduled to face Shawndell Winters on the Mikey Garcia-Jessie Vargas card Feb. 29 in Frisco, Texas.

Joseph Parker envisions a second world title. That’s the ambition. But to get there he has to start anew while also avoiding any rematches with dangerous insects. He might be the only heavyweight in history making a comeback from a spider bite.

It looks as if a spider did what no heavyweight has to Parker. It put him down and knocked him out of the heavyweight division’s title mix. He was forced to withdraw from a scheduled bout with Derek Chisora in October when he began to feel ill and fatigued. It was determined that he was suffering from the venom of a poisonous spider

But the poison is gone and the ambition is back as Parker resumes his quest Feb. 29 against Shawndell Winters on a DAZN card featuring welterweights Mikey Garcia vs. Jessie Vargas in Frisco, Texas.

“It was frustrating to be ruled out of the Chisora fight in October, especially in such an unusual way,’’ Parker (26-2, 20 KOs) said after Matchroom Promotions announced the fight this week. “But I have been on fire in the gym in Las Vegas and we’re ready to get back to business. The division is moving at a great pace and this is a perfect opportunity to show the world that I am one of the elite players in the division.’’

Parker won a heavyweight belt in a majority decision over Andy Ruiz Jr. in December 2016 at home in New Zealand. He defended it twice. Then, he lost it in a decision to Anthony Joshua in March 2018 in Cardiff, Wales. A few months later, 2018 just got worse for Parker, who lost a decision to Dillian Whyte in July in the U.K. He went on to win two bouts. But the road back went awry by something unforeseen. Nobody saw the spider.

In Winters (13-2,12 KOs), Parker faces an unknown heavyweight from Harvey, Illinois. Twelve knockouts in 13 victories indicate he has power.

“This is the biggest fight of my career and I am going to make it count,” said Winters, who is promoted by Lou DiBella. “I am used to being the underdog. It’s something that I thrive on, and if Joseph Parker underestimates me, he’s going to be in for a bad night, because I am going in there to take him out.’’

Joseph Parker appears headed toward fight with Mauriusz Wach

Joseph Parker is expected to fight Mauriusz Wach on the Feb. 29 card featuring Mikey Garcia vs. Jessie Vargas in Frisco, Texas.

Joseph Parker might finally be in for a real fight. There have been plenty of possible ones, all in the ongoing speculation about who will fight whom in a heavyweight division waiting on the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury rematch Feb. 22 on Fox/ESPN+ pay-per-view.

But there’s some immediate business on Parker’s agenda and it appears to be against Mauriusz Wach on Feb. 29 on a card featuring the Mikey Garcia-Jessie Vargas welterweight fight on DAZN at Frisco, Texas.

Wach (35-6, 19 KOs) told Polish media he is about to sign a contract to fight Parker (26-2, 20 KOs), a former heavyweight champion from New Zealand who has been training in Las Vegas for the last few weeks.

“We are waiting for specifics, documents that will have to be signed,” Wach told Polska Sport. “I will sign, send back and you will probably see me at the end of February with Parker. It would definitely be an interesting fight.

“Parker is fast and dynamic, but somehow I will have to compensate. I watched many Parker duels. I saw him boxing. During training and sparring it did not differ.”

Wach said he has been training in Poland.

“I will have four weeks of sparring,’’ said Wach, who is coming off a decision loss to Dillian Whyte on Dec. 7 in Saudi Arabia. “I think it’s enough time to prepare properly.”

Joseph Parker’s trainer: Fight with Oleksandr Usyk unlikely

Joseph Parker trainer Kevin Barry is less confident that the former titleholder will fight Oleksandr Usyk anytime soon.

The options change almost daily. One day it’s Oleksandr Usyk. The next day it’s not. The dizzying merry-go-round of speculation leaves heavyweight contender Joseph Parker with only one sure thing. He waits.

Parker trainer Kevin Barry is less confident that the former titleholder will fight Usyk anytime soon.

“It’s looking least likely now that fight is going to happen,” Barry told Sky Sports.

Instead, Barry said Parker will look for other possibilities, including a bout with Derek Chisora. Parker, who is training in Las Vegas for a fight Feb. 29 against a still unknown foe on a DAZN card featuring Mikey Garcia vs. Jessie Vargas in Frisco, Texas, appeared to be in line for a title fight against Usyk.

But recent talks between Usyk promoter and Anthony Joshua, Barry said, indicate that Usyk will probably wait for Joshua’s expected mandatory title defense against Kubrat Pulev in the spring. Negotiations are ongoing.

If Joshua wins as expected, Usyk would be next in line for a shot at one of Joshua’s belts, Barry said. Joshua has shown no willingness to relinquish any of his belts. Likewise, there’s been no move from any of the acronyms that they plan to strip him. Instead, there has been talk that Joshua is trying to swing a deal that he’ll fight Deontay Wilder after his rematch with Tyson Fury Feb. 22 on Fox/ESPN+ pay-per-view.

“I honestly believe what we’re going to see is Usyk (wait) and he will fight Joshua in the summer, providing Joshua blows out Pulev, which he should look spectacular doing,’’ Barry said. “I would love nothing more than the opportunity for us to fight Usyk. But the reality of it is, I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Anthony Joshua’s next foe? Talks with Oleksandr Usyk add to intrigue

Anthony Joshua, his promoter Eddie Hearn and Oleksandr Usyk promoter Alexander Krassyuk met at a London hotel Thursday.

Anthony Joshua, his promoter Eddie Hearn and Oleksandr Usyk promoter Alexander Krassyuk met at a London hotel Thursday. It wasn’t a chance meeting. They were there to talk, and it’s fair to assume they did more than exchange gardening tips.

Joshua posted photos of the three, igniting further speculation about a Joshua-Usyk fight.

“Good to catch up with Eddie Hearn, Alex Krassyuk and 258 Management. Talking all things boxing. #JoshuaVsUsyk”, Joshua said in an Instagram post.

Hearn and Krassyuk also posted comments about the meeting on social media.

“More meetings planning 2020,” Hearn said.

Krassyuk posted: “Interesting talks in London with Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua.”

The question is when in 2020. Negotiations for Joshua in a mandatory defense against Kubrat Pulev are ongoing. Deadline for a deal is Jan. 31.

Usyk, a former unified cruiserweight champion who made his heavyweight debut in a victory over Chazz Witherspoon in October, is the mandatory challenger for another one of Joshua’s belts.

If there’s no deal for a Pulev fight, Joshua could turn to Usyk. He then would probably relinquish the belt he would defend against Pulev. There is talk that Joshua vs. Pulev would likely take place in the spring, which has fueled ongoing speculation that Usyk would fight Joseph Parker.

But Joshua’s meeting Thursday is further evidence that he holds most of the pieces to a heavyweight division that is still a puzzle.

Joseph Parker’s promoter: Parker A-side vs. Oleksandr Usyk

Joseph Parker’s promoter is already preparing for possible talks with Oleksandr Usyk, saying Parker deserves the lion’s share of the purse.

Joseph Parker’s promoter is already preparing for possible negotiations for a fight with Oleksandr Usyk, saying that Parker deserves the lion’s share of the total purse.

In what looks to be a trial balloon, David Higgins calls Parker the A-side. The so-called B-side, Higgins says, belongs to Usyk despite credentials that include an Olympic gold medal and a spot among the Top 10 on virtually every pound-for-pound list.

Usyk figures to counter that he has the bigger name and hence deserves the bigger paycheck. After all, Parker has neither Olympic gold nor a mention in the pound-for-pound debate. But talks have to start somewhere and that usually means the media. It’s a place to begin before the bargaining table.

In a sure sign that Higgins expects the fight to happen sometime in 2020, he staked out some early turf, all of which can change once lawyers and networks join the discussion.

“Usyk has not earned his stripes at heavyweight,” Higgins told Sky Sports. “Joseph Parker is the A-side.’’

Higgins, one among many, is waiting on Anthony Joshua’s next move. If Joshua and Kubrat Pulvev agree to a deal for a mandatory defense, Joshua figures to relinquish a belt, opening the way for Parker-Usyk.

Higgins is already seeking some leverage, arguing that Parker fought and lost to Joshua in March 2018 at sold-out Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. He also said that Parker, currently training in Las Vegas for a fight against a yet undisclosed opponent Feb. 29 on a card featuring Mikey-Garcia-Jessie Vargas, lost to Dillian Whyte in front of a capacity crowd at the O2 Arena in London.

“If Usyk wants to share the ring with Parker, I would be expecting 70-30 [in Parker’s favor],’’ Higgins said. “I’ll get ridiculed for that, but listen, Parker has beaten Andy Ruiz, he’s sold out the Principality and the O2.

“He’s a big name in the U.K., so Usyk is the B-side.’’

Expect many sides before anybody hears an opening bell.

Oleksandr Usyk’s co-promoter: Usyk will fight Anthony Joshua in 2020

Anthony Joshua’s next move remains uncertain, yet Oleksandr Usyk’s co-promoter is confident Usyk will still fight Joshua sometime in 2020.

The waiting game for Antony Joshua’s next move continues, yet Oleksandr Usyk’s co-promoter is confident Usyk will still fight Joshua sometime in 2020.

Whether Joshua will relinquish any of his heavyweight belts or show up at Tyson Fury’s training camp as a sparring partner for the Fury-Deontay Wilder rematch is still anybody’s guess. But Alexander Krassyuk says that at some point during the next 12 months Joshua will fight Usyk.

“This is a fact,’’ Krassyuk told Sky Sports. “The question is whether it happens in the next fight or the other. At this stage, we wait for AJ’s decision.’’

Joshua might opt to fight Kubrat Pulev in a mandatory title defense sometime this spring. There are reports that Joshua and Pulev have until Jan. 31 to strike a deal.

If they reach an agreement and Joshua loses his WBO belt as a result, Krassyuk said Usyk will probably fight Joseph Parker instead of Derek Chisora for the vacant title.

“Chisora is impossible for the title,” Krassyuk said. “In case it turns out that the WBO title is vacant, Usyk will be happy to fight for it. And Joseph Parker is the highest available contender.’’

Joseph Parker ready to fight Usyk for vacant title if Joshua opts for Pulev

Joseph Parker could get a shot at the WBO title if Anthony Joshua opts to fight Kubrat Pulev instead of Oleksandr Usyk.

If Anthony Joshua opts for his IBF mandatory over the No. 1 WBO challenger, Joseph Parker could be the beneficiary.

Joshua has been ordered by both sanctioning bodies to fight their mandatories – Kubrat Pulev (IBF) and Oleksandr Usyk (WBO) – immediately, which means he might have to give up one of his three heavyweight belts.

That would set up a bout between Usyk and WBO No. 2 Parker for that organization’s vacant title.

Parker is tentatively scheduled to fight next month in the United States, although neither an opponent nor a site has been announced. Usyk reportedly is considering a fight with Dereck Chisora while waiting for Joshua’s situation to sort itself out.

“Usyk is a very tough fight,” said David Higgins, Parker’s manager. “He’s a southpaw, he would dissect Anthony Joshua. We know this, but if you’re the better boxer and you get a world title shot, you have an obligation to take it. Joseph being old school will not take a backward step, so if that does happen, Joseph will be straight in and he’ll fight Usyk.

“Usyk is a very skilled professional. I respect him and his manager, but it would be a good fight. Hopefully, we might see that this year.”

Parker (26-2, 20 KOs) was scheduled to fight Chisora on the Josh Taylor-Regis Prograis card Oct. 26 in London but pulled out because of what he said was a spider bite.

The Kiwi, who held the WBO title between 2016 and 2018, recovered after a few weeks and wanted to reschedule the Chisora fight before the end of 2019 but the fight didn’t materialize. Thus, Parker will have been out of the ring for seven months if he fights in February.

“Chisora spent two years calling out Joe and now he’s running a mile, so it’s a bit silly really,” Higgins said. “Joe fights the man in front of him and he would fight Chisora tomorrow, but Chisora has gone from wanting to fight to a U-turn.

“I’m not sure about the Usyk-Chisora thing. Joseph would fight either of them.”

Parker stopped Alexander Flores and then Alex Leapai after losing consecutive decisions to Anthony Joshua (who took his title) and Dillian Whyte.

Who’s the best heavyweight? Hint: He comes from Manchester

The debate over who is the best active heavyweight will rage until someone emerges as No. 1 in the ring.

Anthony Joshua seems to think that he’s the best heavyweight in the world simply because he holds three of the four major belts.

Not necessarily. We all know that who you beat – and lose to – is more important than what you wear around your waist. The opportunity to fight for titles often has as much to do as your connections as your ability.

With that in mind, here is how I rank the top three big men in boxing.

  1. TYSON FURY
    Record    : 29-0-1 (20 KOs)
    Defeated: Dereck Chisora (twice), Wladimir Klitschko
    Lost to: No one
    Drew with: Deontay Wilder
    Titles held: Lineal, IBF, WBA and WBO
    Background: Fury has by far the most impressive victory among active heavyweights, a wide decision over longtime heavyweight titleholder Wladimir Klitschko to become lineal champion in 2015. The Gypsy King had to walk away from boxing to deal with personal problems, losing his titles as a result, but he came back to draw with Deontay Wilder in an entertaining fight that many observers thought he deserved to win in 2018. I scored it 113-113. In that fight, Fury went down twice and got up twice. That included a hellacious knockdown in the final round that seemed to finish him off. Fury clearly is the best boxer among these three. And, as he demonstrated against Wilder, he’s resilient. Best victory, best boxer, best heavyweight. Of course, Wilder might have something to say about that when they fight again on Feb. 22 in Las Vegas.
  2. DEONTAY WILDER
    Record    : 42-0-1 (41 KOs)
    Defeated: Luis Ortiz (twice)
    Lost to: No one
    Drew with: Tyson Fury
    Titles held: WBC (current)
    Background: The perception that Wilder can’t box is overstated. He certainly boxes well enough to set up the hardest punches in the sport almost every time he steps into the ring. Forty-one knockouts in 43 fights say a great deal. And, for what it’s worth, he boxed well enough to outpoint Bermane Stiverne to win his title by decision in 2015. He has made 10 successful defenses. Wilder also proved in his first fight with Luis Ortiz that he’s tougher than some might’ve expected. The Cuban had him in real trouble but he survived and won by KO in the 10th round. Ortiz outboxed Wilder in the rematch until a huge right put him down and out in Round 7. This is what Wilder does. A lot of people seem to think that the Bronze Bomber’s limited skill set – if that’s what it is – will bite him in the behind one day. Could that day be Feb. 22?
  3. ANTHONY JOSHUA
    Record    : 23-1 (21 KOs)
    Defeated: Dillian White, Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin, Andy Ruiz Jr.
    Lost to: Ruiz
    Titles held: IBF, WBA and WBO (current)
    Background: Joshua deserves credit for easily outpointing Andy Ruiz Jr. on Dec. 7 to regain the titles he lost to Ruiz by knockout this past June. The knockout artist turned himself into a safety-first boxer to win by scores of 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109. Great game plan, great execution. The performance wasn’t scintillating but it was thorough. Joshua also deserves recognition for surviving a knockdown to retire a 41-year-old Klitschko in 2017. All that doesn’t mean we can forget what happened in the first Ruiz fight. Joshua didn’t simply get caught by a big punch, which happens in the division. He was put down four times and, in the opinion of many, quit in the seventh round. A victory over a particularly heavy Ruiz in the rematch was only the first step in the process of rebuilding his reputation.

Joseph Parker expected to make return in February: report

Joseph Parker plans to resume training in Las Vegas with hopes of getting back into the heavyweight title mix with a fight in February.

Joseph Parker plans to resume training in Las Vegas with hopes of getting back into the heavyweight title mix with a fight in February.

Parker manager David Higgins told Sky Sports that he will leave New Zealand for Vegas within a few days for a fight against an opponent not yet announced by promoter Eddie Hearn.

“There are concrete plans, which it’s not my place to announce,’’ Higgins said. “But there is a date and a venue, and it’s the opponent we’re waiting on.

“We’ve just been told it will be late February and in the United States.’’

Hearn’s next major card in the U.S. features Mikey Garcia vs. Jessie Vargas in a welterweight bout on Feb. 28 in Frisco, Texas on DAZN.

Parker, who lost a heavyweight belt to Anthony Joshua on March 31, 2018, was scheduled to fight Dereck Chisora in October. However, he withdrew, reportedly from illness suffered from a spider bite.

Parker (26-2, 20 KOs) has fought three times since his loss by unanimous decision to Joshua in Cardiff, Wales. He won two and lost one, losing to Dillian White and beating Alexander Flores and Alex Leapai.

WBO orders Anthony Joshua to defend title against Oleksandr Usyk: report

Anthony Joshua barely had time to savor his victory over Andy Ruiz Jr. when the WBO ordered him to defend its title against Oleksandr Usyk.

Could Olexsanr Usyk be next for Anthony Joshua?

Joshua barely had time to grasp what he accomplished by outpointing Andy Ruiz Jr. in their rematch Saturday in Saudi Arabia, winning back three heavyweight titles, when the WBO ordered him to defend its belt against Usyk.

Joshua (23-1, 21 knockouts) must face Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) by early next June, according to the Daily Mail.

Joshua, who was stopped by Ruiz  last June, thoroughly outboxed him in the rematch to win a wide decision to regain the clout that comes with holding heavyweight titles.

In a perfect world, he’d fight the winner of the Feb. 22 fight between Deontay Wilder, who holds the fourth major belt, and Tyson Fury to unify all the titles. It’s not that easy, though.

If Joshua decides not to defend against Usyk, he could be stripped of the belt and any immediate chance of becoming undisputed champion. In that case, Usyk, the mandatory challenger, could fight someone (Derek Chisora? Joseph Parker?) for the vacant title.

However, Usyk, a cruiserweight-turned-heavyweight who was 2018 Fighter of the Year, is an attractive opponent for Joshua. He could possibly take that fight and, if he wins, take on the Wilder-Fury winner afterward.

Another option for Joshua is a third fight with Ruiz, as Joshua suggested immediately after the fight.

Joshua is likely to take some time to enjoy his victory and then sit down with his advisors to plot out his future. All possibilities undoubtedly will be considered.