Joseph Parker, riding high off consecutive wins over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole, finds himself in a frustrating holding pattern despite his surging momentum. Parker was set to fight for the IBF title against Daniel Dubois before Dubois withdrew at the last minute due to illness. Facing Bakole on short notice, Parker delivered a swift victory, only to see his world title dreams put on hold yet again.
According to the Kiwi heavyweight, it now appears Oleksandr Usyk will rematch Dubois instead of taking on Parker. Speaking with The Herald, Parker admits he’s "a bit angry" at the situation. He's tired of waiting to reclaim a version of the heavyweight crown he last held in 2018, and he had hoped his run of high-profile victories would grant him the shot he believes he's earned. Of course Parker's annoyance is entirely justified.
The 33-year-old still holds out hope he'll see a title fight in the near future, but in the meantime, he anticipates "one more fight" before being granted his championship opportunity. That next step could come against unbeaten Agit Kabayel - who recently impressed with a knockout of Zhilei Zhang - or perhaps a rematch with Joe Joyce if the timing works out. Parker says he’ll face anyone, refusing to settle for softer touches while chasing his shot at Usyk or whoever holds the division’s major belts.
For Parker, it’s not just about a title; it’s about recognition of his standing as "one of the best fighters in the world." He’s delivered action and taken dangerous matchups, leaving many to wonder what more he must do to secure a marquee showdown for heavyweight gold.
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Image Credit: DAZN