What's next for Joseph Parker?

I suppose he couldn't have gotten through the rounds he did if he was badly undertrained, however I still have my suspicions that some of those pounds had more to do with the sweet tooth than the sweet science

 

Bakole will probably kick his ass. I like Parker, and had high hopes for him, but he should probably retire. He's got the skills but not the heart or passion for boxing. Either retire or freakshow fights in New Zealand/Australia for easy and safe paydays.

 

What's in Parker's future? Manning the gate in the division.

 

Push for a Whyte rematch otherwise he may as well just serve himself up as a gatekeeper.

His career as a contender is over.

 

He should join the on-the-way-out circuit which actually includes good names and decent money fights. I don't think he needs to consider retirement until he gets KOd again.

Parker/Whyte would be a solid matchup. I don't want to see him against Hrgovich, even though I don't rate Hrgovich. Let these young guys fight each other instead of beating up on the old war horses.

 

Drop down to 235 and rematch AJ

 

Needs some time off though so

 

Whyte's the most obvious option. Maybe Browne if he wants an easy but possibly big money fight down under.

Lots of good fights out there for him. Bakole, Zhang, Hrgovic, maybe even Dubois.

 

Ruiz, whyte, arreola, old man ortiz, charles god walker, etc. The list of potential opps with names is plenty.

He's finished at elite level though.

 

Chill, heal and not look in the mirror for a few days is my immediate suggestion.

After that see if he still has the desire to continue, fact is he still is a name in the division and folk like him, so he can still make a decent living.

While Usyk and Fury are on the scene he isn't going to be winning any world title, so will be fighting a tier below as most ranked heavyweights do, if he is cool with that, and as long as he does not try to stop a juggernaut with his face. he can fight on.

 

Retirement.

He was miserable against Joyce. Takam did much better than him.

 

I never got what people see in this guy.

Gift win over Ruiz is his best result. Chisora is a journeyman, albeit a game one. Hughie Fury, lol? And then all of his other meaningful fights are losses — he got outboxed by a robotic AJ without putting up a fight, Whyte is a second-tier guy (a contender but not championship material, never was), etc.

Parker has one gear and it isn’t that much of a gear. He’s got two KO wins since 2016 and both are against guys who aren’t household names in their own households. He’s never stopped a decent fighter and it’s not like he’s some master boxer.

So his future is as an opponent to build the resumes of world-class fighters, prospects and even suspects. He’ll maybe win one or two here or there but he’s not a top level guy and never was, although he is durable.

 

I don’t know. He’d have a chance against Wilder (as every top HW thinks they have if they can avoid a bomb) but can’t see him getting that shot as doubt the US market knows him so too risky. Whilst he shouldn’t be forced to retire he’s going to have to take a step down the ranks. For some it’s disheartening and they can’t cope which is why people suggest retirement. Not everyone can do what Chsora does