Klitschko eyes Parker’s fight date with Joshua

‘‘From our side, if Wladimir Klitschko against Anthony Joshua can be made for the WBA and the IBF belts, for November 26, we are taking that fight, no question.’’ Promoter Eddie Hearn

The postponement of Wladimir Klitschko’s rematch with Tyson Fury could see Joseph Parker knocked off his title fight against Anthony Joshua.

Klitschko had been due for a rematch with Fury on October 29, but the bout has been cancelled for a second time because Fury, the WBA and WBO heavyweight champion, is ‘‘medically unfit to fight’’.

Some reports suggested Fury withdrew due to depression, meaning a new date for the rematch could be a long way off.

If so, Fury may be stripped of his titles, which led Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn to speculate on a possible JoshuaKlitschko showdown on November 26 – a fight which Kiwi heavyweight Parker had been the frontrunner to take.

"From our side, if Wladimir Klitschko against Anthony Joshua can be made for the WBA and the IBF belts, for November 26, we are taking that fight, no question,’’ Hearn told Sky Sports News HQ.

‘‘But, as always in boxing, it is a very complicated process [to strip a title]. There is so much that needs to happen and I don’t feel like they will strip Tyson Fury just yet and I hope they don’t.

‘‘We want the winner of that fight, Fury against Klitschko, and we want to fight Tyson Fury really.’’ If Parker was usurped by Klitschko for the Joshua fight, he would be likely to still fight on the undercard against British heavyweight David Price.

Hearn said his fighter would be ready to go against either the Ukrainian or New Zealander.

‘‘Hopefully, he [Fury] can get back in the ring soon and fight Klitschko but, if not, I spoke to AJ last night and said ‘you could jump in and fight Klitschko’. He said ‘let’s do it’.

‘‘I think he believes that Klitschko is certainly there for the taking and it’s a great fight.

‘‘We have also got Joseph Parker, who is Anthony’s mandatory, and that is a great fight. That could be made for November as well.’’

Hearn had earlier talked up Parker’s attitude and abilities, with Parker set to be named this week as Joshua’s opponent for the title before the Klitschko-Fury fight was called off.

Parker moved above Hearn’s preferred opponent for Joshua, Kubrat Pulev, because Hearn had grown frustrated at stalled negotiations with his team.

‘‘I think Joshua against Parker is such a good fight ... two young heavyweights that can really punch, that have great speed,’’ Hearn said.

‘‘Duco and Dean (Lonergan, Parker’s handlers) have told me that he is ready to go to fight Joshua next. If they are, we are ready to go too.

‘‘We have been looking at the likes of putting Parker against David Price, that’s a dangerous fight as well.

‘‘Again, it also comes to who is willing to step into the ring with Anthony Joshua, and let me tell you the answer to that is not many people.

‘‘Joseph Parker will ... I know he’s got the balls to do it.’’

Hearn said he hopes Parker comes through next Saturday night’s fight against Alexander Dimitrenko in Manukau to enable him to push ahead with a British promotion for the unbeaten Kiwi.

He applauded Parker for taking the risky fight with Dimitrenko while he had the luxury of the mandatory rights to a world title fight.