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 important run since dropping to Joe Joyce again in September of 2022, with Parker profitable 5 on the bounce, included right here wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, says he’s “searching for my subsequent sufferer.” And Dubois could possibly be it.
Talking with The New Zealand Herald, Parker, 35-3(23) stated he has “earned” a shot at turning into a two-time champion. Dubois, 22-2(21) will likely be combating 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 needs to be him who will get the decision.
“I really feel like I’ve earned it,” Parker stated of a shot at Dubois. “Dubois is in type as nicely. He’s extra assured than we’ve ever seen. He’s popping out of his shell. If Dubois desires a dance associate – activate the lights and I could possibly be that dance associate 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 is perhaps in his prime now at age 32, and we all know he has no qualms about travelling to the UK to battle.
Apparently, former champ turned pundit Tony Bellew stated just lately that if Parker and Dubois did battle, it could possibly be “Ike Ibeabuchi Vs. David Tua over again.”
“They’d throw that many punches between the 2 of them. It might be an absolute slugfest,” Bellew stated.
If we ever received a battle as particular as absolutely the epic Ibeabuchi and Tua gave us again in 1997, we followers can be very fortunate certainly. Is Bellew proper, although, would a battle between Dubois and Parker make for an important one?
It shouldn’t be too lengthy earlier than Dubois’ February challenger is formally named. Parker is true there within the operating, together with a couple of different names. Warren has stated he hopes to get one thing nailed down quickly.
