Parker set to fight unheralded Winters

New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker looks set to face unheralded American Shawndell Winters in his next fight in Texas.

Parker fights in Frisco, on the outskirts of Dallas, in a Matchroom Boxing promotion at the end of this month. Attempts to get a late opponent have reportedly resulted in Winters agreeing terms from a shortlist that also included the respectable Polish fighter Mariusz Wach.

It seems Wach, coming off a decent performance in losing to Britain’s Dillian Whyte, priced himself out of the bout.

Polish reports confirm Wach is out of the frame and ESPN reports Winters will fight Parker. BoxRec have the American listed as the opponent for the Texas promotion headlined by the Mikey Garcia-Jessie Vargas fight.

Winters is 13-2 in a professional career that only started in 2015. He has 12 wins via knockout.

BoxRec have Winters ranked 12th best American heavyweight and No 48 in their world listings. Parker is their world No 14.

Winters was touted as a prospect three years ago but two losses have dimmed those hopes. But, like Parker, he comes into the fight on the back of two wins.

Winters defeated previously unbeaten Oleksandr Teslenko (16-1, 12 KOs) by a fifth round knockout in September in Canada and followed that up with a stoppage win against another Polish fighter, Sergiej Werwejko.

He is known for his aggression and despite the huge gap in rankings – Parker is at No 2 with the WBO – the Kiwi will need to treat him with plenty of respect.

Parker needs a convincing victory as he looks to keep himself in the frame for another shot at a world title.