It's the weirdest thing like the major consensus seems to be he deserves his shot SO much more than anyone else and it's the only fight that really matters or that's left for Usyk yet there's literally other number one ranked fighters and no one's really calling for them to get a shot at Usyk? so what is the obsession with Parker and not the other number one ranked contenders in the other sanctioning bodies? what's the primary reason with what Parker has done lately that makes him so much more deserving? I have no issue with him being next per se btw it's just I don't get the hype train which is running over the other guys?
It perplexes me more how people refuse to use his title of interim champ and call him mandatory. While still thinking he deserves the shot most! Make it make sense. I can't count the amount of times I've had to correct people. I think the main thing is a lot of Aussies and New Zealanders watch boxing and he is their first HW champion and/or the best HW fighter that the region has had since the 1800s. When you haven't had a top HW in a long time people overrate their "favorite son". We saw it with the pre Lennox British fighters like Bruno and we're probably going to see the Americans do it as the memory of pax Americana fades more and more. Of course theres 3 interim champs and a 4th mandatory and of those specific 4 fighters he is clearly top 2. Everyone should have him over Wardley and Chisora. He shouldn't be ranked ahead of Kabayel for a number of reason but hes only being overrated over 1 guy. He clearly deserves the shot I just don't see people losing sleep over Usyk not fighting him in particular. I liken this situation to Chris Byrd. For the life of me I cannot understand people holding Lennox not fighting Chris Byrd against him. I get Byrds ranking I get he deserved the shot and so forth same as Parker its just I don't get people caring at the level they cared and still care. I can't see someone looking at Lennox's career and everyone he didn't fight and thinking "if only he fought Chris Byrd what a shame that fight didn't happen, Byrd would have whopped him". This reminds me of that.
Mandatory Former titlest Excellent resume Good man Bring it on. POST SCRIPT: About that resume Andy Ruiz Deontay Wilder Zhilie Zhang Martin Bakole Derrick Chisora Kallie Meehan Sascha Dimentrenko Frans Botha Alex Leapai Carlos Takam Hugh Fury Jr. Fa
1 - He's the Mandatory 2 - He's earned that mandatory by beating Wilder, Zhang and Bakole who yes after he beat them they were washed up but before they were seen as dangerous fights he wasn't expected to win with the exception of Bakole who came in on short notice. 3 - The best fighters of this era have been Usyk, Fury, Joshua, Parker and Wilder. Wilder is done and he's already beaten Joshua and Fury twice so Parker is really the last man standing and seems to be at his peak so the fight simply makes sense. You beat the best and then you beat the rest and there is one man Usyk still hasn't faced among the best of this era who is still relevant and that is Parker. 4 - Who else deserves a shot more than Parker? Kabayel maybe but Parker is the mandatory and I think Parker's recent run is more impressive.
Obvious troll post. Parker's recent wins are easily second best in the division after Usyk himself. Add on that he held the WBO previously and has faced most of the division and been competitive in the division for a decade and there is no comparison. Plus he has the WBO Interim which is next in rotation and hasn't been defended for nearly four years.
Because Parker is on the best form run of anyone in the top 10 since his loss to Joyce and moving to Andy Lee, but due to AJ/Fury/Dubois/Usyk rematches he has been frozen out of ANY deserved title shot. Especially given that Dubois ducked his scheduled defence of the gifted IBF against Parker though 'illness' but then was queued up vs Usyk a few months later? For that alone, Parker should be the next up for a shot. Regardless of whether Wilder, Zhang & Bakole are great wins in the manner of them, Parker has a good winning streak, and was robbed of his title shot when the Dubois fight fell through.
If not Parker ... Why then even have people earning their belt-shot by fighting and winning over top ranked opposition. It's like you may as well have U.S. presidential elections without primaries and just anoint a party nominee based on favouritism by a select band of establishment insiders.