This week, WBO interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker announced that he would return to the Circle in the fall, along with a list of potential opponents. Parker was in a strong position to beat "The Big Bang" Zhang Zhilei on points earlier last month, and he is now one step away from a World Title shot.
Parker admits that his first goal is to challenge the winner of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk. On May 18, Fury vs Usyk heavyweight champion will be staged in Saudi Arabia, and Parker has mandatory qualification to challenge him, so it depends on whether he can make it to the line.
Parker's promoter David Higgins told Sky: "Parker has had an amazing year, with five fights in the past and all of them won, taking on two of the most feared fighters in boxing, Zhang Zhilei and Deontay Wilder. It may have been the best year ever for Parker, who regained the respect of the public and, at the peak of his career, once again had real money. ”
On the exact timing of Parker's return, Higgins said: "There are rumors that Parker will be in action later this year, but we don't want to be presumptuous, Parker can play anyone, and he wants to be in Saudi Arabia in the fall, September or October, whoever it is, Parker will play against him. ”
Although Parker is the WBO forced challenger, from the perspective of the order, he may not challenge the winner of Fury vs Usyk anytime soon, because before Parker, IBF forced challenger Filip Helgovic to have the right to challenge first, not to mention the possibility of a rematch between Fury and Usyk, which leaves Parker with a huge "window", so he should finish a new match in the "window".
Higgins said that in addition to the Fury vs. Usyk battle, Parker will also pay attention to the Zhang Zhilei vs. Wild battle on June 1, which means that if Zhang Zhilei wins, he will still be one of Parker's options.
Higgins said: "Parker is a WBO interim champion and has mandatory eligibility. In Saudi Arabia, there are two very interesting fights – Fury vs. Usyk and Zhang Zhilei vs. Wilder, and once those fights go through, see who Parker will choose? ”
In addition to the aforementioned potential opponents, Parker has another target, which is old rival Anthony Joshua, and Parker even made a music video specifically this month in the hope that Joshua will be able to accept a rematch.
"It should happen, but I don't think Joshua is going to schedule the next step, and if they do, it would be great, Parker will play in the rematch, but if I'm a gambler, I'm not sure it's going to take shape," Higgins said. Now Parker, who can beat Joshua, boxing business and trash language aside, Parker can really get revenge on Joshua, and Joshua's team should support this matchup, and they are well aware of the risk of fighting Parker again. ”
If Parker wants to finish a match in the "window", he probably won't choose Zhang Zhilei, he should prefer Joshua and Wilder, and also pray that after the winner of Fury vs. Usyk relinquishes the WBO title, he is expected to be promoted to the new boxing champion. We can see if Zhang Zhilei can beat Wild in June? Can we also see if Parker will fight Zhang Zhilei again? If the two sides do meet again, are you optimistic that Zhang Zhilei will get revenge on Parker?