Parker fight
Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has praised Joseph Parker’s bravery in putting his mandatory IBF heavyweight position on the line against Russian Alexander Dimitrenko next Saturday and willingness to step into the ring against his undefeated fighter.
While Parker is favoured to retain his perfect record as a professional against the 2.01m Dimitrenko at Manukau’s Vodafone Events Centre, a defeat would mean his dream of becoming a world title holder would suffer a big setback.
Most observers believe Parker’s hand speed and ability to throw devastating combinations will overwhelm Dimitrenko, who is a good technician but has appeared susceptible to pressure in his two defeats. They are also qualities which would test Joshua to the fullest should the pair meet in Manchester in November or London in March.
However, Hearn, who will announce on Tuesday his card for Joshua’s second title defence in Manchester on November 26 — a line-up which could feature Parker in the main event — said in the same interview that Parker’s speed might be overstated.
“Don’t worry about Joshua’s speed,” said Hearn.
“Joshua is just as fast as Joseph Parker. It’s a great fight — two undefeated fighters, both with great speed, both with great power.”
Recent comments from Hearn about Parker being the preferred opponent for Joshua in Manchester have increased the likelihood of the New Zealander challenging the powerful Englishman sooner rather than later. They appeared the result of frustration following stalled negotiations with Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev, but they could also have been made to force the hand of Peter Fury, the father and trainer of English heavyweight Hughie, who recently said he had agreed in principle that his son would fight Joshua next, but that the money had not been agreed. Hughie, cousin of WBO and WBA heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, would present less risk than Parker for Joshua, and would pave the way for a higherprofile clash between the pair in March. In looking at Parker's next challenge against Dimitrenko, Hearn said: “I think it’s a very gutsy move by Joseph Parker and his team. They are obviously very confident about his ability. When you’ve got a fighter like Anthony Joshua in front of you, many would go into their shell and say, ‘I’m not even going to the gym until that fight is on’.