Parker to benefit as eliminator bout fails
Joseph Parker could be in for a surprise chance for an IBF heavyweight eliminator that would provide a major boost to his dream of winning a second world title.
American Michael Hunter has unexplainably withdrawn from a bout with unbeaten Croation Filip Hrgovic that was set to determine the next mandatory challenger to the IBF heavyweight title currently held by England’s Anthony Joshua.
As a consequence, Hunter has been dropped to No 11 in the updated IBF rankings that has the No 1 position vacant.
The shuffle in the rankings has boosted Parker to No 5 and puts him next in line to face Hrgovic if the IBF proceeds with the elimination process to see who should be their fighter to face Joshua.
It would see the fight offered to the next highest-rated available contender which places the 29-year-old Parker in a powerful position.
Of the boxers above Parker, former world champion Charles Martin had already passed on the opportunity to fight Hrgovic when the eliminator was first offered, while Oleksandr Usyk has his hands full as Joshua’s mandatory challenger for the WBO belt.
British promoter Eddie Hearn won a purse bid to stage the Hrgovic v Hunter fight and, conveniently, is Parker’s major connection in his new European environment where he is training under British coach Andy Lee.
No date had been set for the fight.
Boxing Scene describes Parker as ‘‘the most ideal candidate on every front should he want – and is approached for – the fight’’.
Parker is fresh off a controversial win over Dereck Chisora.
While there has been strong talk of a rematch with Chisora, Parker and his New Zealand manager David Higgins are open to exploring other possibilities.
A chance to manoeuvre Parker into a position of strength with the IBF could be irresistible.
Parker is already well-placed for a similar elimination fight in the WBO system.
But the Kiwi might fancy his chances against Hrgovic, a 28-year-old who was the 2015 European super-heavyweight amateur champion and claimed bronze in that division at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The 1.98m Hrgovic turned professional the following year and has built a 12-0 record though he has fought no one of real substance.
His two notable wins came against ageing American journeymen Kevin Johnson and Eric Molina.
The reality is the winner of the eliminator would face a long wait for a title shot.
Of the four major sanctioning bodies, the IBF had the most recent mandatory when Kubret Pulev lost to Anthony Joshua last December.
That pushes them to the back of the queue.
If Joshua is to take on Tyson Fury in an undisputed fight, a sequel will be part of the deal, only lengthening that wait.
This New Zealand Breakers Australian NBL season keeps lurching from bad to worse, with Tom Abercrombie’s hamstring injury the latest blow to the plummeting Kiwi club.
Breakers coach Dan Shamir confirmed after Sunday night’s 98-84 defeat at the Perth Wildcats that Abercrombie was likely to miss significant time after limping off late in the contest with a hamstring injury.
The Breakers are playing for pride only now, with their playoffs hopes pretty much dust after Sunday’s defeat dropped them to 9-18 for the season.
They would have to win all nine of their remaining games even to scratch back to .500 – a mark unlikely to gain them a spot in the playoffs anyway.
The Breakers went into Sunday’s contest against the Cats, whom they had beaten in their previous two matchups, down import Levi Randolph (hamstring tear) and experienced shooting guard Corey Webster (lower back tightness).
Abercrombie added his name to the crocked list late in the contest when he hobbled off with 12 points in 28 minutes on 4-of-8 shooting.
It was the team’s second loss on the bounce and fourth defeat in the last six as the light went out on their long-shot playoff hopes.
‘‘I think we have lost him [for extended time],’’ said Shamir.
‘‘I don’t know exactly for how long, but it doesn’t look good at all. It’s sad but we will have to overcome this too.’’
The Breakers have battled injury losses, among a myriad of issues, all of this season which has seen them based entirely in Australia thus far.
They have two more road games to come (at South East Melbourne tomorrow night in Melbourne, and then Illawarra on Saturday) before returning to New Zealand for their last seven games.
They will be playing those only to avoid the wooden spoon, for which they are locked in a tight race with the 7-21 Cairns Taipans.
Breakers head coach
The Breakers players have not seen their Kiwi families and friends since they left to prepare for the season just before Christmas.
‘‘All these things are always tough, and they’re always opportunities too, for people to step up and to see what they are about,’’ added Shamir when asked about morale within his group.
‘‘For every team, everywhere in the world, when you don’t have your players, it’s tough to win.
‘‘You can win some games, you can look at every possession and give it everything you’ve got and be focused and locked in, and other people can step up.
‘‘It’s unfortunate. He (Abercrombie) played 28 minutes, but he’s carrying a lot of load.
‘‘I don’t know the duration [of the injury]j but it doesn’t take two days for a hamstring to heal. I’m assuming we’ll have to play without him.’’
Abercrombie’s absence will be keenly felt. He is the team’s best defender, and one of the premier on-ball stoppers in the league.
Dan Shamir