Following Joseph Parker’s Saturday win over Junior Fa in New Zealand, it’s looking more and more likely that we’ll see former heavyweight titleholder Parker face Derek Chisora next, with Matchroom Boxing teasing the idea on social media today:
This has seemed like the most likely next fight for Parker (28-2, 21 KO) for a bit now, as both sides have expressed interest even before the Fa fight actually got over and done with.
Parker and Chisora (32-10, 23 KO) were signed to fight in late 2019, but Parker withdrew then after a spider bite. The sides have chirped a bit back-and-forth since then. Parker has beaten Shawndell Winters and Fa in the meantime, while Chisora instead fought David Price in Oct. 2019, winning by fourth round stoppage, and then lost to Oleksandr Usyk last October.
Chisora-Parker would make plenty of sense for both. Chisora, 37, is always game, can make for some really fun heavyweight fights, and has some name value in the UK, has built a fan base over the years despite never being a true top-tier heavyweight. And while Parker, a former WBO titleholder, might want to get back into a title fight, there just isn’t one available for him at the moment. Tyson Fury (WBC) and Anthony Joshua (WBA, IBF, WBO) continue to discuss an undisputed fight, leaving none of the belts available.