Parker ‘not a legit world champ’
Joseph Parker wouldn’t stand a chance against American WBC champion Deontay Wilder, veteran boxing writer Thomas Hauser says.
The New Zealand boxer will defend his WBO title on Saturday when he fights Romanian Razvan Cojanu.
It is expected to be an easy win for the Kiwi, but Hauser, the Pulitzer nominated writer of Muhammad Ali’s biography told Radio Sport he’s got a way to go before he stands a chance against Wilder and other top heavyweights.
‘‘Joseph Parker is a professional fighter...i got a lot of flak in New Zealand previously, but I still feel that Joseph Parker is not a legitimate world champion,’’ Hauser told Radio Sport.
‘‘My sense is that Wilder would probably knock him out. I haven’t seen any evidence that Joseph can punch hard enough to really hurt Deontay Wilder, or has the chin to take Deontay’s punch.
‘‘That said, Deontay is a flawed fighter.
‘‘Would I turn on the TV to watch it. Yes, but would the winner be the heavyweight champion of the world? No.
‘‘Right now Anthony Joshua deserves recognition as the number one heavyweight in the world. The winner of Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker would be a credible challenger to that throne.’’
After beating Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium last weekend, Anthony Joshua can convincingly hold the mantle as the best heavyweight in the world.
But it’s not a clearcut as it was when Ali was at his best, as there are numerous belts from rival boxing organisations.
If Parker beats Cojanu, he could then look to take on Wilder and if he wins that fight, there’s the possibility of a true unification fight against Joshua at some point.