What is next for Joseph Parker, and when might his return be expected?

Parker is food for Itauma. Thats the fight to make when Itauma becomes champ

 

Depends if he’s pretending to be a puncher still.

 

Take aim at the weakest champ for one of the fragmented belts, not buying this idea that Parker is a spent force just yet, he's still young for a heavyweight and has some excellent wins. I fancied him to beat Dubois until Dubois pulled out at the final hour, and if he hadn't got pulled into a bar-fight with Wardley he would've beaten him on points, the fight should never have been stopped either, Wardley landed about 2 of his last dozen shots and was absolutely exhausted. Anyway, what's done is done, Parker is a live opponent for anyone in this divison.

McKean would be a decent fight to blow the dust off, and then a big showdown Down Under with Huni would shift serious tickets and is a good fight on paper. If he can win that in impressive fashion then a big money fight vs Kabayel for the WBC title could be a good route. See what happens, if he looks woeful in his return or can't beat someone like Huni, then there's not much point in carrying on.

 

Does anyone care lol

 

Yeah, this approach absolutely baffles me and it's what cost him the Joyce and Wardley fights.

With how long this is taking to drag out I'm not sure if he does have a pathway to a belt if he continues to stay inactive.

 

Brutal but not undeserved. If he dont got a belt what reason is there for anyone to fight him?

 

Can't get a belt if the champs won't fight tbf.

 

Warren dislikes Parker for some reason. After Zhang he had to wait almost a year to face Dubois, only for Dubois (and probably under Warren's guidance) to call in sick and pursue the Usyk fight instead, lol.

Then Parker had to wait 8 months to face Wardley, only to get busted for a trace amount of an illegal recreational substance.

Now don't tell me Frank couldn't have made it so Parker had been cleared to fight now if he actually favored Parker...

 

Not British, so no money in him. Not hard to understand at all. It's garbage, but not hard to understand.

As for those asking if anyone cares--I do. He could easily win another title. He's just got to lose some of the weight and go back to boxing.

 

I do. Been a fan of Parker’s for a good few years now and wish him nothing but the best.

 

In all seriousness, he’ll fight a couple journeymen in McKean, Dacres, Adeleye. Then probably fight a gatekeeper or be fed to Itauma and see what happens from there.

Hes had a few miles in the tank now and blew his huge opportunity for a title shot recently.

 

Parker needs to leave Warren- he doesn't have his interests at heart
New promoter - new game plan (staying with Lee but adjust thinking from power to speed)
Have a hit list of beatable opponents that will enhance his rating towards a belt.

 

He'll take a low level tune up and then wait for one of the paper champions to select him.
He's not exactly threatening at this point.

 

Zuffa?

Although Turki never seemed too bothered about Joe