USYK has NOT been granted EXTENSION

But not LMFAO, that'd be too much.

 

Exactly, Parker is either getting elevated or he’s fighting usyk. Not sure there’s a third option

 

Vitali beat Hide, Donald, undefeated Kevin Johnson, Sanders, Peter, undefeated Arreola, Adamek, and if people add an old chisora on Parkers resume Vitali beat a much fresher Derek as a 40 year old. Also lost way less rounds. Vitali is way better than Parker

 

But that wasn't obvious at the time of the Lewis fight which is what I am trying to get at. Easy to see these things in hindsight, but if we go back in time to before the Lewis fight. Vitali had worse odds against Lewis, a far weaker record, plus a reputation as a quitter.

Now coming back to today Parker is in a better position than Vitali was yet people write him off and say he has no chance against Usyk and won't add anything to Usyk's legacy. Which is funny considering how people said the same thing about Vitali back then.

 

Which is why those who know Itauma's current capabilities best - he and his team - have been talking about fighting the best in the division next. Franklin and Pulev.

 

Yes - but Itauma will be offered the Parker fight

He is #1 contender with the WBO

And Frank may well push him to do it

 

Parker is going to get destroyed by Itauma, I don't think he's going to make it to Usyk

 

What a great fight

Parker vs Itauma

Gotta make it next

 

I don't get the hype personally.

He looks super talented, but you need to keep the level of competition he's facing in mind as well.

 

There's nothing we have seen so far that suggests Itauma will blast Parker out early. Parker has fought plenty of big punchers and nobody has ever looked like blasting him out early, let alone actually done it.

 

I don't doubt it'll happen, but imo Itauma is all risk with no reward for Parker.
If he beats Parker the hype train keeps rolling, if Parker beats him the narrative will change to "moved too fast" and "was a hype job all along".

Neither he nor his team have been saying Joe's name recently, which I suspect means they don't want it next. Frank would love it I'm sure, Turki might as well, but I wonder if Itauma's team thinks it's a bit early for him tbh.

 

It would be for a belt

And that will tempt Itauma for sure

 

Turki didn't want Parker-Usyk, why would he want Parker-Itauma?

Then again, Turki is wetting his pants over Usyk-Itauma and if Usyk bins the WBO belt, Turki might see it as a way Itauma might take a belt into a fight with Usyk?

 

Yep - you got it

 

Because he thinks Ituama will win and he'll have his big British cash-cow.