Parker up for Chisora challenge
confirmed opponent.
And Higgins said Parker is ‘‘willing to step in with anyone’’ as he looks to regain a world title after relinquishing his WBO belt to Anthony Joshua last March.
‘‘Like most top heavyweights, Joseph will be willing to fight anyone,’’ Higgins told Sky Sports.
‘‘I see Eddie Hearn mentioning Chisora publicly. If the deal was right, then sure enough, Joseph certainly will not back away from anyone. It will be interesting to see how that pans out.
‘‘There’s been one email from Eddie. No detailed discussion whatsoever.
‘‘As I say, Joseph would be willing to step in with anyone, provided it’s the right terms. I’m hoping to speak to Eddie this week.’’
Chisora has a patchy professional record of 29 wins and nine losses from his 38 bouts, though his defeats have come against high-calibre opposition, including Whyte (twice), former world champions Tyson Fury (twice), David Haye and Vitali Klitschko, and top contender Kubrat Pulev.
The 35-year-old Londoner was also up on two scorecards before Whyte knocked him out with vicious left hook in their rematch at London’s O2 Arena on December 22.
Last July, the rugged Brit scored the most impressive victory of his career, knocking out former Parker foe Carlos Takam in the eighth round of a slugfest that revived his flagging career.
Chisora recently teamed up with former WBA champion Haye and has improved his fitness and conditioning under the ‘‘Hayermaker’s’’ guidance.
Parker, meanwhile, has been enjoying a break with his family since scoring a third-round knockout win over Alexander Flores in December. Wellington Phoenix chairman Rob Morrison wants to investigate taking some of the team’s games away from Westpac Stadium and relocate them to Hutt Recreational Ground.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Morrison flagged a significant expansion of their academy programme as well as a return to the Hutt Recreation Ground.
Known as ‘Hutt Rec’, the club built a boutique temporary stadium there during the 2014-15 season which played host to three matches while their usual home ground, Westpac Stadium, was unavailable during the Cricket World Cup.