Has PARKER Hurt his FUTURE??

Given that Zhang, Parker, Kabayel and Bakole haven't secured fights would indicate that the Saudis are at play. Who else is hosting big fights at the moment?

 

He'll be fine. He deserves the shot at Usyk if he wants it, but he would do just as well to fight for the WBO belt when he retires.

 

We'll see but there no doubt he's lost quite a bit of momentum by taking such a protracted hiatus from the ring. I personally hate to see when this happens. Like when Ward won the Super 6 then vanished off the face of the earth for most of the year, beat Dawson and then didn't fight again for over a year. Fighters only get one prime and seeing fighters squander it with inactivity is never good.

 

I'm disappointed that Parker is being left inactive.

He said he improved due to having plenty of activity - four fights in a 12 month period. He was at his best, but now he's been shelved for many months! Shame on Turki - terrible management.

 

It is a disappointing that he has not fought since March (his only fight of 2024, after 4 fights in 2024).
But I do expect Parker, Zhang, Kabayel and probably Bakole to be on a Saudi card very soon. I'm not ruling them out being slotted in a week or two BEFORE Fury and Usyk. Or possibly early to mid-January.

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To be fair to Parker, he had 3 fights in 6 months, 2 of which were against top 10 opponents.

He's now been out of action for 7 months which isn't the end of the world but he needs fo crack on and get a fight sorted before the end of the year.

 

Bad management.

 

I've been thinking for the last couple of months that the inactivity has been a strategic thing on the part of Zhang's team. Parker attributed the activity in 2023 for his success, and an arrogant Zhang who came in fat thinking he could put Parker out early still managed to put him down hard twice. I just figured his team were stalling to keep Parker inactive and give Zhang a bit more time to get his weight back in the upper 270s range and give him some activity in the interim too. Pretty ****ing dirty if that's the case, but Parker's management would also be to blame for getting in a position to let that happen. It'll irritate the hell out of me if the rematch happens anyways, not just because of my general dislike for rematches, but also because if Zhang wins (and for what it's worth, I think he would) it'll just confirm my suspicions that if he came in like that the first time we wouldn't have had to have their entire year eaten up by another damn rematch

Part of me is hoping he's being held back to step in for Fury. I'd much rather their respective rematches be scrapped so Fury can pursue the AJ match before it loses any more luster and Parker can get his title shot. I give him very little chance of upsetting Usyk even as a last second replacement, but he's definitely earned his shot. Wouldn't be the worst situation ever either, because Usyk fighting Parker would not only keep him busy, but also satisfy his WBO mandatory, clearing the way for the rematch with Fury to still happen afterwards. That is 110% wishful thinking on the part of a guy who dislikes rematches though

 

If he fights AJ the only people being put to sleep are the fans.

He has earned his shot, I think Dubois makes a lot of sense

 

Interim belt. Zhang was the previous champ of that belt and the fight was close.

 

Turki either gives a f... and includes you on his card, or he doesn't.