The “circus” that man of the moment Tony Bellew openly says he hates, is looking for its next stop, and it could be that the cruiserweight champ who successfully shocked David Haye at the weekend gets a world heavyweight title shot next. Bellew said at Saturday’s post-fight presser that he knows his promoter Eddie Hearn will make him an offer he “cannot refuse,” and that this will keep him in the sport a little longer.
Joseph Parker
Hughie Fury signs for WBO heavyweight title fight with Joseph Parker
Having been given a deadline by the WBO, unbeaten Hughie Fury today signed on the dotted line to challenge unbeaten WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker. Fury’s promoter Frank Warren announced how Hughie, cousin of former and still undefeated world champion Tyson Fury, signed today:
“Contract is now signed for @hughiefury to face @joeboxerparker for the @WorldBoxingOrg World Heavyweight Championship! #andthenew,” Warren wrote on twitter.
Parker’s team feel Joshua unification fight would happen before Wilder – but concede it all depends on Parker getting past Hughie Fury
We all want to see an undisputed heavyweight champion, and we fans are not alone in this desire. Deontay Wilder, the WBC king, has stated how, for him, “2017 is all about unifications,” and New Zealand’s reigning WBO heavyweight boss Joseph Parker and his team feel the big unification bouts will come soon enough.
Deontay Wilder: 2017 is all about unifications
While reigning and unbeaten WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder has gone on record as saying he doesn’t believe his February 25 challenger Gerald Washington is ready to fight him (way to build the fight!), “The Bronze Bomber” is more than ready to get busy trying to unify the heavyweight titles here in 2017.
Speaking at a presser this week, and quoted by RingTV.com, Wilder said that after he gets past the unbeaten (but yes, still very green) Washington, he wants his very next fight to be for the WBO belt; either against the current holder Joseph Parker or Parker’s next challenger Hughie Fury – who will face Parker in his maiden defence on April 1 (incidentally, Wilder picks Parker to win the fight.)
Duco Events wins purse bid; Joseph Parker-Hughie Fury set for April 1st in New Zealand
It has just been announced on social media by WBO president Paco Valcarcel how Duco Events, who are the promotional outfit behind reigning WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker, won the purse bid for the Parker-Hughie Fury fight.
The clash of young unbeaten heavyweights will now go ahead on April 1st in Auckland in New Zealand.
Deontay Wilder wants Joseph Parker next “if all goes well in February”
WBC heavyweight ruler Deontay Wilder is all for taking a fight that he believes would see him add the WBO belt to his trophy cabinet. Wilder, who must first return to action for his first fight since last July, against Polish contender Andrzej Wawrzyk on February 25, says he very much wants to fight recently crowned WBO champ Joseph Parker in April.
Parker and his people have gone on record as saying they would like the Wilder fight – and a unification fight can override a mandatory, so Parker’s mandatory, Hughie Fury would have to wait – and “The Bronze Bomber” told 78SPORTSTV he wants Parker after Wawrzyk.
Joseph Parker’s co-promoter David Higgins says Parker “wants to unify the titles; is willing to lose trying”
Joseph Parker may have made history by becoming the very first heavyweight champion (WBO version) to come out of New Zealand, but the unbeaten star wants more – lots more. According to David Higgins of Duco Events, Parker is likely to be in attendance at Wembley in April when IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua meets former undisputed king Wladimir Klitschko in a fight that will also contest the WBA belt.
Why? Because Parker aims to call out the winner for a massive unification fight.
David Price in the running to challenge WBO heavyweight champ Parker; Jarrell Miller, Hughie Fury also on shortlist
Newly crowned WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker is lining up his first title challenger for April 8, and there are at least three names in the running for the shot. Parker could fight a British foe in David Price or Hughie Fury, or he could face unbeaten New Yorker Jarrell Miller.
According to a piece on Sky Sports News, who spoke with Price, Parker’s people are keen on “showcasing” Parker in the UK, and would therefore prefer a British challenger for April. Bob Arum, who was quoted as speaking with Boxing Talk, said the April challenger will be either Price or “Big Baby” Miller.
Joseph Parker’s promoter open to doubleheader on April 29: Joshua-Klitschko and Parker-Wilder
New WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker seems to have plenty of options now that he has made his mark as the first New Zealander to have won heavyweight gold. Parker may have to face Hughie Fury in a mandatory first defence next spring, but the 24-year-old’s promotional outfit Duco Events are looking at all options – some of them massive.
David Higgins of Duco spoke with Sky Sports yesterday and he discussed everything from a Parker-Fury fight, to a Parker-Wilder unification fight, to a Joshua-Parker doubleheader on April 29, when AJ will fight former champ Wladimir Klitschko.
Joseph Parker says he’ll fight Anthony Joshua “any time he wants,” but it could be Hughie Fury next for the new WBO champ
Unbeaten Joseph Parker, who captured the vacant WBO heavyweight title at the weekend with a close decision win over Andy Ruiz Jnr, is already looking at his first title defence. Parker and his team want a break first (the 24 year old has had an amazing 15 fights in just three years) but the first defence is being looked at for March or April of next year.
Parker, 22-0(18) was a very interested onlooker as IBF champ Anthony Joshua did the business against challenger Eric Molina and the New Zealander says he will fight AJ “any time he wants or [whenever] I want.” However, it is more likely Parker will defend against Hughie Fury next spring. Parker is confident he can beat either Brit, but the Joshua fight is the big one.