Parker to benefit as eliminator bout fails

Joseph Parker could be in for a surprise chance for an IBF heavyweight eliminator that would provide a major boost to his dream of winning a second world title.

American Michael Hunter has unexplainably withdrawn from a bout with unbeaten Croation Filip Hrgovic that was set to determine the next mandatory challenger to the IBF heavyweight title currently held by England’s Anthony Joshua.

As a consequence, Hunter has been dropped to No 11 in the updated IBF rankings that has the No 1 position vacant.

The shuffle in the rankings has boosted Parker to No 5 and puts him next in line to face Hrgovic if the IBF proceeds with the elimination process to see who should be their fighter to face Joshua.

It would see the fight offered to the next highest-rated available contender which places the 29-year-old Parker in a powerful position.

Of the boxers above Parker, former world champion Charles Martin had already passed on the opportunity to fight Hrgovic when the eliminator was first offered, while Oleksandr Usyk has his hands full as Joshua’s mandatory challenger for the WBO belt.

British promoter Eddie Hearn won a purse bid to stage the Hrgovic v Hunter fight and, conveniently, is Parker’s major connection in his new European environment where he is training under British coach Andy Lee.

No date had been set for the fight.

describes Parker as ‘‘the most ideal candidate on every front should he want – and is approached for – the fight’’.

Parker is fresh off a controversial win over Dereck Chisora.

While there has been strong talk of a rematch with Chisora, Parker and his New Zealand manager David Higgins are open to exploring other possibilities.

A chance to manoeuvre Parker into a position of strength with the IBF could be irresistible.

Parker is already well-placed for a similar elimination fight in the WBO system.

But the Kiwi might fancy his chances against Hrgovic, a 28-year-old who was the 2015 European super-heavyweight amateur champion and claimed bronze in that division at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The 1.98m Hrgovic turned professional the following year and has built a 12-0 record though he has fought no one of real substance.

His two notable wins came against ageing American journeymen Kevin Johnson and Eric Molina.

The reality is the winner of the eliminator would face a long wait for a title shot.

Of the four major sanctioning bodies, the IBF had the most recent mandatory when Kubret Pulev lost to Anthony Joshua last December.

That pushes them to the back of the queue.

If Joshua is to take on Tyson Fury in an undisputed fight, a sequel will be part of the deal, only lengthening that wait.