By: Sean Crose
“I’ve been wanting a rematch with Joshua,” common heavyweight Joseph Parker has mentioned to Sky Sports activities. “I wish to avenge these losses.” Certain sufficient, Parker has solely misplaced 3 times – as soon as to Joe Joyce, as soon as to Dillian Whyte and naturally as soon as to Anthony Joshua, who decisioned the New Zealander again in 2018. “I do know AJ’s one other huge battle, I don’t actually care who I battle, simply make certain it’s somebody who’s prime 5 on the planet.”
Though Parker is presently the interim WBO heavyweight champion of the world, the person doesn’t appear to see the belt to be all that huge a deal. “It’s a bargaining chip, being the champion of the world,” he informed Sky Sports activities. “You wish to win it (the WBO world heavyweight title) so it will be good to battle somebody to win it. I do know you may get elevated to it and it provides you a bit extra bargaining energy. However it will be good to battle for it.”
Parker, nonetheless isn’t solely fascinated with Anthony Joshua and the others who’ve defeated him. He would additionally like to get an opportunity to battle the heavyweight division’s kingpin, Oleksandr Usyk.”If that chance got here I really feel like I can present one thing totally different,” said Parker. “Expertise, ability, perception, energy, velocity, motion, I really feel like I’m getting higher and higher as a fighter although now I’m 12 years within the sport.”I do know what I can do. I again myself and consider in what I can do. However that’ll be there as soon as I do that battle.”
Certain sufficient, there are some, this author included, who really feel that Parker would possibly give Usyk pretty much as good a battle as anybody else at this level. Parker’s a veteran in spite of everything, plus he’s been a world titlist, and he is aware of what it means to battle on the large stage. What’s extra, the person can battle. “Usyk holds the choice who he desires to battle,” mentioned Parker. Little question the person wish to be Usyk’s first selection of opponent.
One fascinating facet of Joyce’s character is that he doesn’t reek of desperation. “For now ,” he mentioned, “I’m simply going to battle who’s in entrance of me and simply get pleasure from all of it.” That type of balanced strategy serves the person effectively in his profession. He’s nonetheless on the scene, in spite of everything, after lots of his friends have left the stage. At this level in his profession, that’s a reasonably good place to be.
