Hearn has Parker doubts

Promoter Eddie Hearn doubts Joseph Parker will return as a heavyweight force after his latest loss but Dillian Whyte says his opponent has the hunger and ability to do it.

Hearn said after Whyte beat Parker by unanimous decision at the O2 Arena that such was the money the Kiwi made from the Anthony Joshua fight, coming back from two losses would be extremely difficult.

But Whyte, who put down Parker twice — the first time the 26-year-old has been dropped in his career — thinks otherwise.

“Two decent wins and he’s back in contention in the division again,” Whyte said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He’s got a good jab. He seemed to fall apart in the later stages of the fight but in saying that, he put me down in the last round.”

Parker’s promoter David Higgins believed a Whyte-Parker rematch could be possible but Hearn said: “It’s probably not at the top of the list.”

His man could fight Anthony Joshua at Wembley in April.

Parker’s finish was virtually the only positive of the fight for him. He started well but then the momentum shifted completely towards Whyte — just as it did in the Joshua fight.

“I fought someone very experienced,” Whyte said. “He did exactly as I thought. He’s tough as well, I hit him with some big punches. I hit him with that left hook but he got up. He’s a tricky operator as well.”

Asked if Parker was hungry enough, Whyte said: “He was hungry. When I hit people, they don’t usually get up, but he got up.”

Asked about Parker’s power, Whyte said: “His power is good. Listen, he’s got 18 knockouts. I didn’t see the punch coming. It was a good punch and I got hurt. I showed experience. The last time I did that, I fought on. This time, I took a knee.”

Whyte said Parker “buzzed” him with a straight right in the 12th.