Oleksandr Usyk can’t name himself the best heavyweight boxer of his period till he fights and beats Joseph Parker, insists the Kiwi’s promoter David Higgins.
Usyk turned a three-time undisputed champion of the world and two-time undisputed heavyweight champion on Saturday as he knocked out Daniel Dubois within the fifth spherical to reign supreme at Wembley.
Throughout the build-up to the occasion Usyk had advised he seemingly had two extra fights left in his profession. If the primary was Dubois, who would be the second?
Talking within the ring afterwards, the Ukrainian floated Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, each of whom he has crushed twice, in addition to Derek Chisora and Parker as potential subsequent opponents.
“The whole world wants to see Parker fight for a world title,” Parker’s promoter Higgins instructed Sky Sports activities.
“He is been within the queue for a very long time. He is a frontrunner. He is obligatory with the WBO. It is nice to listen to Frank Warren saying Parker subsequent. It is nice to listen to specialists like Lennox Lewis saying Parker subsequent.
“I think it would be an outrage if he didn’t get the shot. It’s not really fair.”
The 38-year-old Usyk delivered one other masterclass on British soil to quash the goals of his youthful rival, who had been looking for revenge for his first knockout loss to the previous Olympic champion again in August 2023.
Dubois had been resulting from defend his IFB belt towards Parker earlier this yr earlier than pulling out throughout battle week resulting from sickness.
Parker subsequently knocked out late substitute Martin Bakole to comply with up wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang in conserving him on target for one more world title shot.
“He’s the No 1 contender, the mandatory for the WBO and the WBO have ordered the winner to fight Joseph, that’s my understanding,” Higgins continued.
“In Joseph Parker, you’ve now got a veteran who’s fought names like Joshua, he’s beaten guys like Andy Ruiz, Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, Bakole recently. He’s beaten them all.
“And so, if Oleksandr Usyk goes to actually declare to be the best heavyweight of this period, he is bought to beat Joseph Parker as properly. And he hasn’t fought him but.
“I think it would be silly to go fight guys he’s already beaten. When Parker’s sitting there at number one contender.”
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Highlights of Joseph Parker’s spectacular knockout victory towards Martin Bakole.
Fury just lately voiced his intent to face Usyk in a trilogy battle in 2026 after struggling back-to-back defeats to the unbeaten champion in 2024.
However a prolonged queue to problem Usyk has fashioned, on the entrance of which seemingly lies the in-form Parker.
“Joseph is ready,” stated Higgins. “He’s boxing to win the world title, the unified world title, those are his goals.
“He is already crushed a number of high guys, however he’d relish and leap at a possibility to battle for that title. So, if it was supplied up on the finish of the yr, nice. If it was subsequent yr, I am positive he’d take a look at it, he’d leap at it.
“He’s gone in the ring with formidable, feared opponents as the underdog, guys that other people are scared to fight. Joseph is just getting better and better every fight.
“He is not over-awed in any respect. He’d again himself to beat Oleksandr.”
