Former WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker has firmly thrown his hat into the ring so far as being IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois’ subsequent challenger. Parker, who has been on an awesome run since dropping to Joe Joyce again in September of 2022, with Parker successful 5 on the bounce, included right here wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, says he’s “in search of my subsequent sufferer.” And Dubois might be it.
Talking with The New Zealand Herald, Parker, 35-3(23) mentioned he has “earned” a shot at turning into a two-time champion. Dubois, 22-2(21) might be preventing in February, so says his promoter Frank Warren, and it’ll not be a rematch with Anthony Joshua. An acceptable contender is now wanted, and Parker feels it ought to be him who will get the decision.
“I really feel like I’ve earned it,” Parker mentioned of a shot at Dubois. “Dubois is in kind as effectively. He’s extra assured than we’ve ever seen. He’s popping out of his shell. If Dubois desires a dance accomplice – activate the lights and I might be that dance accomplice for him. I don’t know what they’ve deliberate for him, but when he desires to battle, I’m right here to search for my subsequent sufferer.”
Parker actually has the required credentials so far as him being worthy of difficult Dubois, and it’s probably loads of followers would see this battle as near a 50-50 affair if it occurred. Parker could be in his prime now at age 32, and we all know he has no qualms about travelling to the UK to battle.
Curiously, former champ turned pundit Tony Bellew mentioned not too long ago that if Parker and Dubois did battle, it might be “Ike Ibeabuchi Vs. David Tua another time.”
“They might throw that many punches between the 2 of them. It might be an absolute slugfest,” Bellew mentioned.
If we ever obtained a battle as particular as absolutely the epic Ibeabuchi and Tua gave us again in 1997, we followers could be very fortunate certainly. Is Bellew proper, although, would a battle between Dubois and Parker make for an awesome one?
It shouldn’t be too lengthy earlier than Dubois’ February challenger is formally named. Parker is true there within the working, together with a couple of different names. Warren has mentioned he hopes to get one thing nailed down quickly.