Parker keen on rematch against Whyte
Joseph Parker’s first stop on the road to redemption starts in Christchurch but destinations further afield are already in his travel plans.
Parker returns to the ring – following the first two defeats of his career – against Alexander Flores, 28, in the humble surroundings of Horncastle Arena tonight.
Parker (24-2), the former WBO heavyweight champion, needs a victory over Flores (17-1-1) to start the long journey back to the pointy end of the division following loses to four-belt world champion Anthony Joshua and highly rated Brit Dillian Whyte so far in 2018.
Parker rubbished Flores’ claims that he’s already looking past the Mexican, who is based in the US, but admits he’s got bigger targets on his agenda in 2019.
Top of the list is a rematch with Whyte following the close and controversial loss.
Parker went within an inch of stopping Whyte late in the 11th and 12th rounds but the Kiwi was earlier dropped by an accidental headbutt in the second round that was scored as a knockdown. He insists the effects of the head clash played a role in the defeat.
‘‘That’s a fight I’d love. Especially because of how it went,’’ Parker told Stuff at yesterday’s weigh-in.
Parker knows he has to get through Flores before he can think about calling anyone out and Whyte has to get by Dereck Chisora – who he beat in a split decision late in 2016 – when they meet next week in London but he is keen on the rematch.
Parker, 26, is not currently ranked with the WBO, courtesy of his consecutive losses, but a victory over Flores should see him jump back into their top 15. He is also ranked No 5 with the WBC and No 8 with the IBO.
Whyte has been waiting patiently for another world title shot and is unlikely to take on Parker until he gets it.
How Parker’s team plot their way back up the rankings in 2019 remains to be seen but the fighter himself is adamant he will be back taking on the best in the world and he’s not fussed on who is thrown in front of him to get to that point.
‘‘I know I belong at the top and can beat them but they were better on that day,’’ Parker said of his loses to Joshua and Whyte.
‘‘Fighting those types of guys only elevates you and improves you so I want to fight the best out there.
‘‘I want to fight [Tyson] Fury and [Deontay] Wilder but I have to take the right steps to climb the ladder.’’
If looks mean anything, Parker is in the right shape to quickly dispose of Flores.
Parker, 26, tipped the scales at 109.25kg – almost identical to his weight for his last start loss to Whyte – but looked in much better shape.
Flores, who is the same height as Parker, was recorded at 107.95kg but was nowhere near as ripped as Parker.
‘‘Because this year is the first year we’ve done strength and conditioning, for the Joshua fight and then for Dillian Whyte, this camp has been 10 weeks worth of length so the body’s not only worked hard it’s had the time to adjust and get used to the training that we’ve been doing.
‘‘So I feel like I’m in better shape than I was for those two fights. I feel that not only fitness wise but also strength wise and I look better,’’ Parker told Stuff.
Trainer Kevin Barry said Parker had a lot to prove and he expected a dominant, powerful and explosive performance tonight.
‘‘Jo knows that is a career on the line in this fight,’’ Barry said.
But Parker isn’t feeling any added pressure despite Barry insisting a loss to Flores would likely be terminal for Parker’s career.
‘‘I know I’ve worked hard for 10 weeks so whatever happens in the ring happens,’’ a confident Parker said.