Parker’s title fight may be put on hold for Klitschko

Challenger furious as Fury pulls out of rematch again

"What I like about Parker and his team is they are actually looking to improve. They are looking to get the right preparation for Anthony Joshua." Promoter Barry Hearn

The postponement of Wladimir Klitschko’s rematch with Tyson Fury could see Joseph Parker knocked off his title fight against Anthony Joshua.

Klitschko had been due for a rematch with Fury on October 29, but the bout has been cancelled for a second time because Fury, the WBA and WBO heavyweight champion, is ‘‘medically unfit to fight’’.

Fury may be stripped of his titles, which led Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn to speculate on a possible Joshua-klitschko showdown on November 26 - a fight which Kiwi heavyweight Parker had been the frontrunner to take.

‘‘From our side, if Wladimir Klitschko against Anthony Joshua can be made for the WBA and the IBF belts, for November 26, we are taking that fight, no question,’’ Hearn said.

‘‘We want the winner of that fight, Fury against Klitschko, and we want to fight Tyson Fury really.’’

If Parker was usurped by Klitschko for the Joshua fight, he would be likely to still fight on the undercard against British heavyweight David Price.

Hearn said his fighter would be ready to go against either the Ukrainian or New Zealander.

‘‘Hopefully, he [Fury] can get back in the ring soon and fight Klitschko but, if not, I spoke to AJ last night and said ‘you could jump in and fight Klitschko’. He said ‘let’s do it’.

‘‘We have also got Joseph Parker, who is Anthony’s mandatory, and that is a great fight. That could be made for November as well.’’

Hearn had earlier talked up Parker’s attitude and abilities, with Parker set to be named this week as Joshua’s opponent for the title before the Klitschko-fury fight was called off.

Parker moved above Hearn’s preferred opponent for Joshua, Kubrat Pulev, because Hearn had grown frustrated at stalled negotiations with his team.

‘‘I think Joshua against Parker is such a good fight ... two young heavyweights that can really Tyson Fury’s rivals in the heavyweight boxing division are showing little sympathy for the Englishman after he withdrew for his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, for a second time.

The fight was scheduled for October 29, but was called off on Saturday due to Fury’s doctor declaring him ‘‘medically unfit to fight’’.

Reports have suggested the reason was depression, with Fury’s team expected to give a more detailed statement this week.

Klitschko said on Twitter he was disappointed he would not be able to ‘‘retrieve my world championship belts’’, before posting a video which appeared to question the validity of Fury’s reason for missing the fight.

‘‘As you already know, October 29th revenge against Tyson Fury is cancelled due to whatever issue this time Fury has.

‘‘Screw it, I will move forward and

punch, that have great speed,’’ Hearn said.

‘‘Duco and Dean (Lonergan, Parker’s handlers) have told me that he is ready to go to fight Joshua next. If they are, we are ready to go too.

‘‘We have been looking at the likes of putting Parker against keep you posted when, and against whom, my next fight is going to be staged.’’

Undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder took it a step further than Klitschko, claiming a lack of discipline from Fury was behind the postponement.

‘‘It’s very sad to see a champion unfit to preform due to no self

David Price, that’s a dangerous fight as well.

‘‘Again, it also comes to who is willing to step into the ring with Anthony Joshua, and let me tell you the answer to that is not many people. Joseph Parker will ... I know he’s got the balls to do it.’’

Hearn said he hopes Parker discipline,’’ he wrote on Twitter.

Others, of less repute, took to social media to question the courage of the self-proclaimed ‘‘gypsy king’’, while others offered their sympathy for his mental health issues.

Fury may now be stripped of his titles as he is unlikely to defend them within 12 months of winning them off Klitschko.

comes through next Saturday night’s fight against Alexander Dimitrenko in Manukau to enable him to push ahead with a British promotion for the unbeaten Kiwi.

He applauded Parker for taking the risky fight with Dimitrenko while he had the luxury of the mandatory rights to a world title

There have also been fresh doping allegations made against Fury. In June, it was reported Fury was found to have traces of an anabolic steroid in his system in 2015, before he beat Klitschko.

He denied any wrongdoing and a hearing was expected to take place in November.

Now, Fury has allegedly refused to give samples to United Kingdom Anti-doping (UKAD) testers, the Mirror reported.

‘‘Tyson was visited by testers over the last few weeks but just refused,’’ a source told the paper. ’’He said, ‘F*** off’, and wouldn’t do it. His camp tried to contact UKAD to get him tested but to date that has not taken place.’’

Fury, who could face a four-year ban for missing the tests, was photographed yesterday at a boxing event in Manchester, supporting British middleweight Hosea Burton as he beat Fernando Castaneda.

fight. ’’It’s a brave move by Joseph Parker and his team. They are obviously very confident in his ability,’’ Hearn said.

‘‘When you have a fight like Anthony Joshua in front of you, many would go into their shells and say ‘I’m not even going back to the gym till that fight is signed’.

‘‘What I like about Parker and his team is they are actually looking to improve. They are looking to get the right preparation for Anthony Joshua. Dimitrenko is good preparation though risky at the same time when you’ve got that golden fight in front of you

‘‘When you go into a fight like that you can’t help but have it in the back of your mind that you’re already the mandatory for the world title. That brings a bit of added pressure.

‘‘But Parker knows he has to improve to beat the best Anthony Joshua and he is going to make those improvements in the ring. You can spar but only ring time helps you prepare for someone like Anthony Joshua.’’

Hearn dismissed Dimitrenko’s claims that Parker lost his Auckland fight against Carlos Takam in May, a result which earned him the IBF’S mandatory position.

Duco boss Dean Lonergan reaffirmed Parker’s readiness to fight for the title if required.

‘‘We have been in contact with Eddie, we will have to wait and see what comes of it. If Joshua wants to take us earlier, we are up for it,’’ Lonergan said.

‘‘The plan has always been to fight October 1, then November 26 and fight Joshua in March.

‘‘But we have said to them right from day one that if you want us to go in November, we are absolutely fine with that as well. We are ready to go.’’