I'm not so sure, Parker definitely won a few but AJ won fair and square. If Joe gives Whyte a convincing beating/KO then a rematch with a re-invented Parker may become more interesting than the build up to the original fight
Even though I don't mind who comes out on top as I like both guys, I think Whyte is going to surprise a lot of people and do one over on Parker. Out-work out-muscle and up his game again.
Whyte definitely is an improved fighter and I'd imagine his shoulder is now 100% hence Browne was KTFO but Browne was old slow and came to the fight totally unprepared to where he should have been on the night.. Parker on the other hand is young, fast and knows what is needed to fight at this level so it will be a good yardstick to where Whyte is at.. I think Parker will win UD, maybe a late TKO. I think Whyte may be the one unprepared given he hasn't really faced a true contender since AJ. Pretty much just big slow sluggers (Chisora, Browne Helanis et al). Parker on the other hand has had alot of variety in his recent fights and fighting AJ last start is a bonus..
Yeah that's how I see it too, people are going on about Whyte having momentum - but in this case I actually think Parker has the better momentum DESPITE the loss. His momentum is at a much higher level, back to back, in tough tests and he wasn't sparked out by someone people didn't expect him to lose to - which WOULD count as a big loss in momentum. Instead, his loss was going 12 rounds in a high level fight with the current ruler of the division and was the first to do so... and is HUNGRIER for it. I am amped for this
Parker arguably beat or drew with AJ, Whyte got KO'd cold by him, I'd say that was a far more impressive uprise than KOing an old out of shape Browne who showed up for a paycheck.
I'm torn, in a way. Parker does have a prolonged KO slump but it's a matter of styles in my opinion, having to contend with multiple 6'7ish guys with super heavyweight dimensions who both just came to fight negative and spoil, and a legitimate talent with a seemingly top chin in Andy Ruiz. I don't think Whyte is poor, he's a dangerous fighter with more than one good asset, but I don't feel he's as smooth, skilled or consistent as Parker.
Just to go OT for a second I don't think Browne turned up for a paycheck but he was definitely there to win but he was hopelessly unprepared for a fight against that level of an opponent.. He has never had a remotely professional team, poor training, very poor sparing partners (he is Australian after all) plus having a huge layoff after getting thoroughly out boxed by Chagev made him think him right hand was a get out of jail card.. Fell a bit sorry for him because that lesson should have been learn't by Chagev..
The closer the fight gets the more I think Whyte might surprise me a beat Parker. Parker is coming off a loss and that can effect a fighter's confidence, Parker may not show it, but you never know how a fighter deals with their first loss to jump in at such a high level again and not rebuilding and retooling might be a mistake here. I'm honestly not confident of who will win, it's a total pick em fight for me. Whoever shows up and wants it more will probably take it.
I really like both fighter's- I'm more interested to see if White has really improved as much as I think he has or if it's just a situation where he's been matched up carefully since losing to AJ. The fight with him and Chisora could've went either way and Lucas Browne was nothing more than a gateway keeper at best. Still, he looks like he's improved since losing to Joshua. Whoever wins this match is fully deserving of a title fight with either Joshua or Wilder. In Dillian's case, he's already the #1 ranked challenger in the WBC so I'd love to see him matched up with Deontay if he can get by Parker. I haven't been impressed with Joseph whatsoever in his last 2 fights- truth be told I thought Hughie Fury beat him quite convincingly but the judges didn't want to award him the win for fighting off his backfoot for most of the fight. He kept that jab in Parker's face all night and should've been awarded the decision IMO.
Pretty much how I see it, although going from the Browne fight (okay, he looked terrible to be fair!), I actually thought Whyte showed a lot more maturity and patience. He also showed he has a pretty good, fast and rangy jab when he decides to use it and didn't just walk to his opponent and follow them around the ring. He boxed first and foremost which was interesting to see. Obviously his opponent didn't do a great deal, but it was clear that Whyte was wary of LB's power so didn't just bum rush looking to brawl. I think on paper you have to go with Parker, but as you know, paper burns! This could prove to be a lot closer than people think.
Wow, you really must hate AJ to think that Parker made it a close fight. It wasn't a remotely close fight.