Here are my arguments why current Parker beats current AJ- (1) Their first fight was actually pretty even. AJ did NOT dominate in any way. Watch it again. (2) Parker has now greatly improved under Andy Lee. His conditioning is also miles better. (3) Parker has been fighting (and beating) much tougher opposition than AJ. He is much better prepared for a big matchup due to this. For all these reasons I believe Parker now beats AJ. Your thoughts?
It was what, 18 months ago when Parker was destroyed by a guy as limited as Joyce? Also, "proof" is not your opinion.
I am not saying that I agree but there is no doubt that they are the #2 and #3 heavyweights in the world, so they ought to contend again when Usyk retires. I will add a couple more points: 1) Parker is younger, and 2) Some felt that the officiating went a but AJ's way in the first. I would still pick AJ but a hell of a fight!
Parker deserves his place in the top 5, but I haven't seen anything to make him favourite against Joshua who also looks resurgent. Zhang was a tough opponent and a very good win but he is not a 12 round fighter. Had he been, Parker would have taken another L in their fight. Wilder is also a good scalp, but he has a severe lack of fundamentals and couldn't pull the trigger. It's hard to say how much he has left. Joshua has none of the above flaws (or not to such a serious degree). IMO he breaks down Parker and stops him late in the fight, much like Joyce did. Parker is doing the right thing calling out Whyte
I agree with your prediction. Parker needs to run it back with Joyce, in my opinion, rather than Whyte. The Whyte fight could have gone either way. The Joyce fight less so. That's before we even discuss Whyte and his PED issues.
I didn't think the first fight was close, wasn't a great fight if were honest their styles back then didn't mesh well. But I thought it was a pretty clear victory for Joshua. But Parker has earned a rematch, he has also definitely improved under Lee who will approach Joshua very differently. It's a fight I would want to see again but I don't think Parker can beat Joshua, it will be closer this time but Joshua fights nothing like Wilder or Zhang and is a level above them. Parker has called out Whyte but if Joshua is open to it, I'm sure Parker would accept as his team have talked about rematching Joshua after they beat Wilder. Question is does Joshua want it? I don't see why not, he doesn't really have a better option right now with most of the division tied up. But we might see Joshua/Whyte instead, I hope not as it's a mismatch, I'd prefer Joshua/Parker.
He wet the bed massively in the 1st AJ bout He had to take shots to pressure AJ but at heart Parker is not a pressure fighter and he lacks stamina when physically imposed on. AJ beat him again.
We need to calm down. Parker beat the nearly 40 year old inactive shot ghost of Wilder, Before eeking out a narrow majority decision against a 40 year old who dropped him twice Good wins, but Joshua beats him again if they rematch
I think Parker (at 24 yrs) was truly over-awed by the occasion in the first fight (in front of 80,000 at Wembley) He is a different man now - and I think he has the tools to pull the upset
Their first fight wasn't even, a lot of close rounds but you could give 2-3 rounds to Parker if your being generous. I still thinks AJ either beats Parker comfortably on points or stops Parker this time. I say that as someone who has always rated Parker highly and been one of his biggest fans (I was in the minority here picking him to beat Wilder).
The biggest money fight for AJ is the one the Saudis will pay for. Parker is on a good run but I like the Whyte fight for him, to put that right. AJ Hrgovic Parker Whyte Wilder Zhang Put that card on in June please.
Parker vs Joshua wasn't even at all. Joshua kept Parker at bay with his Jab and landed the better shots lol. AJ was clearly the victor. Parker has beaten - Shot Deontay Wilder. 40 year old Zhang. Decent wins, but hardly proof he's better than Joshua, and he also got smashed by Joyce who Joshua would UD easily.
