Has The Parker Illusion Broken?

I think you're unconsciously hyping Wardley now.

 

Parker got to this position by hard work and consistent fights so he got up the rankings

He didn't get here because of ring IQ of amazing skills

He is trading on toughness at this stage.

Wardley just wanted it more.

 

Yeah honestly I would actually give Parker a really really good shot to win the rematch now that its obvious what tactics he should use

 

Parkers had a really good run of wins, name wise, but theres alot more to them wins when you delve into it. Wilder used to get boxed up by genuine European/British level fighters, but because they are hot **** he could eventually get them out of there, Wilder was there for the taking from any decent world level operator his whole career, he just didnt give any of them the chance to step in the ring with him. Parker beating him didnt shock me. Zhang fight went exactly as expected, make it to round 5 vs Zhang and youve got yourself some Chicken Fried Rice with a side of Chinese punchbag. Bakole woke up and entered the ring asif he had just been on back to back episodes of man vs food.

Parker is a World Level operator, thats not in doubt in my eyes, i dont like to see a fighter lose and then say he was no good or hes ive been overrating him. Hes fought enough World Level opposition for me to believe hes World level. That doesnt change for me now that hes been beaten by Wardley. Wardley deserves credit and praise but for some reason in this sport, if a underdog wins we have to bash the favourite instead of praising up the underdog.

This happens all the time, like Tank vs Roach as another example, although a draw, we instantly talk about Tank instead of how well Roach was and now Tank drops in credibility instead of us saying maybe Roach is just at that level.

All in all, my opinion would be no, Parker is a World Level operator, losing to Wardley doesnt change that, all it does is opens the eyes of the masses that Wardley does in fact belong at the top of the division and can mix it with the best.

 

Always a gatekeeper? He was a world champ at 24. Settle down.

 

Wardley absolutely proved that he is just as good and equal to Joeseph Parker's level but theres two facts here
1. Parker was up on the cards
2. Questionable (regardless of how you personally feel) stoppage
These are just the facts. He is world level for now but we can't look at that and propel Wardley past Parker's level and beyond yet. Those are just two huge asterisks.

 

Do you have an answer though?
If I'm honest I'm saying Joshua and Fury are/were over-hyped, nevermind Wilder. And Parker's never received that level of hype. Maybe he was never quite as good. But losing to Wardley isn't evidence against him because most of the 'top' heavyweights have avoided fights like that. The truth is you'll have to go back far to find a 'young' hard-punching hungry fighter on the records of Fury or AJ, of any sort. Even if you think Wardley is crap. I'd offer that he's better than Francis Ngannou or Otto Wallin or Jermaine Franklin. If that's "hyping Wardley", so be it.

 

I thought Parker looked awful in there, but I think it comes down to the gameplan and weight (his footspeed was atrocious). He got it in his head that he needs a statement knockout to fight Usyk and decided to Kronk his way in at 260+ pounds. He would win an exchange, then stay in the pocket to keep throwing and got caught multiple times and finished that way. Part of the reason is the he's so uncomfortable coming forward, Parker looked like he had no idea how to set Wardley up while stepping in. Parker on the backfoot would have gone on to a super boring UD where both he and Wardley would have looked incredibly mundane.

To give some credit to Wardley, his bodyshots were on point to the extent that I saw reactions on Parker's face. It definitely helped break Parker down in the long run.

On balance, I think Parker was appropriately hyped. Decent attributes all around, tricky night's work for anyone, definitely one of the best contenders in this era, but not the most fan friendly style.

 

There was never an illusion. Parker was a solid contender, top 10 type. He was never an A level guy

 

I don't think that's being fair at all. Who did Charles Martin ever beat?

Parker beat Andy Ruiz, who went on to become a unified champion himself by beating AJ. He also beat Wilder, another former world champion. Are they gatekeepers too?

 

He's a good fighter who took risks. It's more than some champions did in their pomp * cough, I'm looking at you, Tyson Fury *
He eventually came up short. No shame in that. And, who knows, perhaps he's about to go on another solid run?

 

If Parker is a gatekeeper, who are the contenders? Fury alone? Joshua? Dubois? Kabayel?

Parker has been a legit top 10 contender for a long time. Yes, he tends to come up short against the very best, but that does not = gatekeeper. He has more than enough good wins to justify his standing as a contender rather than gatekeeper. He may now go on to be a gatekeeper in the twilight of his career, but at his best (which is kinda hard to pinpoint), he was a belt-holder and long-term contender.

I actually picked Wardley to beat Parker in a war, which is more or less exactly what happened, so I'm certainly not revising my opinion of Parker based on this fight.