JOSEPH PARKER

New Zealand, 25 years old, 23-0 (18)

LAST FIGHT:

Looked limited and out of ideas against the chronically unheralded Razvan Cojanu. Parker was never in danger against the Romanian, but the drab 12-round points win has sent his stock tumbling.

NEXT FIGHT:

His reputation might be at an all-time low, but the list of fighters now targeting him has never been longer. Those who view him as beatable, and fancy snaring his lucrative WBO belt are Bellew, Whyte, Dominic Breazeale, Jarrell Miller and Hughie Fury – whose recent injury allowed Cojanu in from oblivion. Fury remains his mandatory, but given what we’ve seen from Parker in his recent bouts he would be wise to apply some more seasoning – perhaps in the form of No. 2-ranked, Christian Hammer – before going in front of the big guns.

BEST ATTRIBUTE:

His unbeaten record and WBO title should do wonders for his wallet. For as long as they remain, Parker is a marketable foe. His age should also be considered too – at 25, providing he isn’t badly exposed in the near future, he’s only going to get better.

WORST ATTRIBUTE:

He’s a poor man’s Wilder. He can appear clumsy, struggles to cut off the ring and, unlike Wilder, can fade late in fights. Much of that can be put down to experience of course, but his rapid ascent to world class is likely to be his undoing.

WHO SHOULD HE AVOID?

Unless he’s looking at cashing out, all of the big names for now – he’s just not ready.

HOW HIGH CAN HE GO?

Easy to get carried away with the criticism on the strength of one poor outing. But when you add it to the contentious points win over Andy Ruiz Jnr that came before, and the struggles he had with Carlos Takam one year ago, evidence points to Parker being as far up the mountain as he’s going to get.