Joseph Parker... a meaningless fight for Usyk?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by MarkusFlorez99, Aug 3, 2025.

  1. BubblesUK

    BubblesUK Doesn't buy hypejobs Full Member

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    Whilst true... A better, more proven fighter certainly adds a lot more than a highly hyped guy who might be at a similar level (or not).
     
  2. The Real Lance

    The Real Lance Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    No way is fighting Parker a meaningless bout. He's a deserving top contender in a rapidly thinning field of HWs
     
  3. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic War for Souls Full Member

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    It's not a meaningless fight if Usyk loses.
    Parker is a former HW champion, and has a more than solid resume.
    It's certainly not a meaningless fight because Usyk could build on his legacy and resume ((he is credited with 6 major wins against only 3 opponents).
     
  4. Philosopher

    Philosopher Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I think he beats Parker comprehensively, but Parker is the most deserving and on paper actually adds more than anyone else. Ex world champion, wins over Wilder, Zhang and Bakole, fought at the highest level for many years. However, Parker has an asterisk. His best wins come over overhyped, overaged or out of condition fighters. His world title win was, I think, a homer. For me Ruiz won that night. He has losses to fighters Usyk has beaten, and a fighter you'd bet the house on him beating.

    Now, lets process this. This guy, with the above caveats, is the most deserving and for me, Usyk beats Kabayel as easily as he will beat Parker. The division without an in form AJ, Fury or even Dubois looks rather bereft. The cupboard is bare. I hope Usyk gives Joe his shot, both are honourable and decent men so it would be good to see. I hope he then beats Kabayel and goes on to have some fun 'Turki' fights in his forties and retires with more wealth than he could ever have dreamed of.
     
  5. mrbigshot

    mrbigshot Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Unfortunetly , sad to say , this discussion is meaningless because usyk will keep on avoiding both of them . Parker would immediately fight usyk , kabayel would immediately fight usyk , anytime and everywhere.
    Its usyk and nobody else who runs away from this fights

    When usyk is that good he should just face and beat them both .

    Will unfortunetly not happen .
     
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  6. OldSchoolBoxing

    OldSchoolBoxing Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It's not meaningless if the paycheck will be over $50M.
     
  7. OldSchoolBoxing

    OldSchoolBoxing Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Parker is full of PEDs, he built that insane size to match the giant heavyweights. Though, he lacks skills to dance with Usyk. He lost to Whyte, Ruiz Jr and AJ, which tells a lot about his skills. Beating 600 years old Zhang and a shot Wilder means nothing.

    Usyk won't fight Parker/Kabayel if the paycheck is less than 3rd Fury/AJ fights. Not that he's scared of them, he just wants the biggest paydays.
     
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  8. Wizbit1013

    Wizbit1013 Drama go, and don't come back Full Member

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    Who is gonna put that money up?
     
  9. ChiefGego

    ChiefGego Active Member Full Member

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    He's the current top contender and he's still only 33, who says he doesn't beat Dubois, rematch AJ and win (probably not.), beat Kabayel who also goes on to do well, or Itauma etc etc etc.
     
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  10. OldSchoolBoxing

    OldSchoolBoxing Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Nobody.
     
  11. Wizbit1013

    Wizbit1013 Drama go, and don't come back Full Member

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    Exactly

    Poor Joe is the contender no promotion wants to use in the current climate
     
  12. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    But Usyk has only beaten 5 opponents at HW and 4 of them are British doe

    Yes, that's 5 opponents in 8 fights at HW and 3 of them were the #1 or #2 ranked HWs when he fought them and one of the others was his mandatory and #2 when he rematched them and he was contractually bound to rematch 2 of the others

    And the 3 he rematched were by far the biggest money fights out there for him and he was in his mid to late 30s and already past his prime when he fought them all and he fought 4 of those 5 HWs in their backyards at least once. This is after having been criminally underpaid for most of his career

    At CW he beat 16 different opponents in 16 fights, including Russians, Latvians, Americans, Poles, Germans, Brits, Mexicans, Cubans, Colombians, South Africans, Ghanaians, Argentines

    People just looking for any reason they can, no matter how tenuous, to try and discredit a fighter who has been the definition of a legacy fighter throughout his career and is one if not the most honourable fighters to ever lace up a pair of gloves and whose conduct in and out of the ring and negotiating table has been damn near impeccable, borderline saintly even :facepalm:
     
  13. Wizbit1013

    Wizbit1013 Drama go, and don't come back Full Member

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    Did Usyk steal your Girl or something??
     
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  14. VOXDEI

    VOXDEI Heavyweight only weight Full Member

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    Unfair characterisation of Zhang. He had/has huge strengths as well as weaknesses. He was likely avoided plenty by other heavies.
     
  15. BubblesUK

    BubblesUK Doesn't buy hypejobs Full Member

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    It goes both ways...

    Zhang could bang like almost nobody else, and generate it seemingly from nowhere.

    At the same time, his record against top-200 heavies is 3-3-1.

    Now sure, yes, he's old... But I can't believe the other 194 or so guys wouldn't fight him, can you? Heck, I can't believe 94 of the top 100 wouldn't, either...


    He stepped up very late, so it's hard to be certain what he could've achieved in his prime - but that's his fault, eh?
     
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