..looking back at his fight with Joshua I can't help but think he could have been the guy to 'Ruiz' Joshua, before Ruiz did. Man, he just needed to go out guns a blazin, throw with bad intentions, like Ruiz did and see if it came off. He had the power and speed to do it. (people were always debating who was the quickest heavyweight out of Parker and Ruiz) He coulda' been that guy and his name would have be cemented in the boxing annals. I wonder if he regrets not throwing caution to the wind...
I am not making excuses for Joshua...he lost and Ruiz won...but I really think it was a bad night for Joshua as much as Ruiz was good. Again...TAKING NOTHING AWAY FROM RUIZ. We have seen Joshua hang tough before, and he came back and took his titles back. Ruiz made history, Joshua embarrassed himself for one night, but in the end, I don't think Parker could have done it, because he didn't catch Joshua on the right night. That is all.
I wasn't impressed at all with Parker in that fight. He had no real power and I think the referee separating them benefitted him more than Joshua. Joshua looked like the more dangerous and powerful fighter on the inside. It was such a weak defence of a title.
I came in here expecting to read "...by not fighting in December". I would have agreed with that. Parker beat Ruiz in a close fight in New Zealand and lost to AJ wide. I don't think any tricks were missed in either of those fights. Opening up on AJ would have increased the risk of being taken out himself. Parker fought a deliberate fight that night & the result is the result. He's won a slice of the H/W pie. The next goal is to reposition him to fight for a major world title again. He should have fought in December, imo. On the plus side, he should have a nice suntan in time for Christmas.
Ref was an obstruction. But yes - Parker has a better chin than AJ - and should have gone all out for the win. I bet he regrets it
Crazy thing is Parker and Higgins fought to have such a ref Made a commotion about the ref the week of the fight so agreed on this Italian dude No sympathy here, they got what they asked for Parker wasn't good enough, thats the main reason he lost
We've never seen Parker in that gear before. Solid fighter but I dont think he has it in him to beat the elite fighters
I think he was simply overawed by the occasion. Fighting in front of 70,000 AJ fans for the first time
