Manawatu Standard

Klitschko poised to trump Parker

- DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

Joseph Parker has slipped into a fallback option for Anthony Joshua’s next world title fight with promoter Eddie Hearn making progress in lining up former champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Hearn had hoped to announce Joshua’s next opponent for November’s IBF title fight in Manchester yesterday, but the clouded scene has prevented that.

Now Hearn wants to sort out the fight details ‘‘this week’’ and is working overtime to achieve that.

Klitschko has suddenly come available after the postponeme­nt of his WBA and WBO rematch with champion Tyson Fury, who has pulled out as he battles mental health issues.

Parker is a convenient alternativ­e for Hearn because of his mandatory rights.

But Hearn wants to push on with a lucrative clash against Klitschko, making progress in talks with the Ukrainian’s handlers and believing it could be possible to make it a unificatio­n bout with the IBF and WBA belts up for grabs.

Hearns believes Fury will be stripped of his belts and the legal issues could be cleared in time to set up a clash against Klitschko in the north of England on November 26.

That would see Parker revert to an undercard fight against Briton David Price as originally planned, something that won’t disappoint his handlers Duco Events, allowing them more time to polish Parker for his crack at the crown early next year.

Asked by UK if he felt Fury would be stripped of his belts, Hearn said: ‘‘Yes, I do [think Fury will be stripped]. It’s been nearly a year since he’s boxed. The governing bodies want that belt to be active so over the next couple of weeks, the contenders will be putting pressure on the governing bodies.’’

Hearn said he didn’t expect ‘‘much compassion’’ from the governing bodies for Fury. ‘‘I think they’ll move on, put the champion in recess and move forward with the belts.’’

Hearn has been pleased with progress with Klitschko’s manager Berndt Hearn over the past few days which would explain the lack of firm action in the direction of Parker’s handlers.

‘‘This is a huge fight. I believe Klitschko against Joshua is a favourite for 26 November,’’ Hearn said in the latest British reports.

‘‘This is a deal that would move very quickly. It has to, if we’re going to strike. I would like to get everything sewn up by the end of this week in terms of who Anthony Joshua is fighting next.

‘‘I’m confident. I don’t want to get the fans too excited about the fight but I know Anthony wants the fight and Klitschko is up for it as well.’’

Parker, meanwhile, fights giant Russian Alexander Dimitrenko in Manukau on Saturday night, needing a win to retain his mandatory rights and stay in the frame of an exciting phase of change in the heavyweigh­t ranks.

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