This. Parker just doesn’t look like he’s willing to pay the price to be a top fighter anymore. If he has no ambition or hunger left for boxing he’d be better off retiring.
Parker hit Joyce with what he'd consider bombs and Joyce barely blinked. Unless he trims up and utilizes skill, he might as well retired or be a punching bag for new heavyweight contenders.
He's still top 10. I'd say there's fights with Sanchez, Wilder (I know it won't happen), Hrgovic, Ortiz, the guy that lost to Fury but acts like it's a moral victory, and a Ruiz or Young Fury rematch. I'm sure they both want him
This is basically it. He's a gatekeeper to the contenders due to his durability. And I had him losing to Hughie Fury - he didn't land a glove on him. Hughie Fury was very cautious but pitty patter jabs are better than fresh air. Parker looked atrocious in that.
Parker is no longer a top 5 HW but clearly still in the top 10 (wins over Ruiz, Hughie, Chisora x2 and Takam) Parker should have a very winnable fight against a top 15 guys eg Zhang or Wilder.
With his god given strength, he would make an excellent farmer in New Zealand. Just wouldn't recommend much more boxing from him.
He beat Takem (a gatekeeper) and Ruiz in 2016 — and while a good win the Ruiz decision is sketchy. Hughie in 2017 and what has the lesser Fury ever done? Chisora? A journeyman who always comes to fight but is hardly world class. None of that adds up to a top 10 resume. Especially since the best of it is ancient history.
He also fought top opposition. A lot more fighters would have more losses if they didn't try so hard to protect their zeros bar Usyk.
I think he is done at any top level from here on in. Personally I think retirement but I can see him fighting on and then just fading into obscurity.
Off the top of my head: 1. Fury 2. Usyk 3. Wilder 4. AJ 5. Ruiz 6. Joyce 7. Helenius 8. Hrgovic 9. Wallin 10. Whyte, Zhang, Sanchez, Kabayel or maybe Hunter So I’d put Parker below those 14. So maybe top 15.
