Looks to be for the WBO title. What are your thoughts? Details from the news below- "Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has strongly indicated in the last few days that Joshua's preferred target was the IBF's Kubrat Pulev. Hearn has both Usyk and Parker on his books so could keep the WBO title "in house" at Matchroom Boxing if he set up that fight, providing Joshua with a chance to fight the winner at a more convenient time. Joshua has said he was against vacating any belt but the tricky timelines might dictate that. Parker is raring to go, having recently returned home from a training camp in Las Vegas, vowing to stay in shape for any opportunity that might arise in a three-fight deal with Hearn that has two fights left on it. Parker's manager David Higgins last week told the WBO convention in Tokyo: "If the belt becomes vacant, he would like to raise his hand and fight Usyk for the vacant title."
It's much better and more intriguing fight than Usyk vs Chisora. Not only Parker isbetter boxer than Chisora, he also has the style that can trouble Usyk unlike Chisora, who is tailor-made for Ukrainian. If Usyk vs Parker gets made, I'd expect Usyk to win by close but clear decision
Nice. These 2 are arguably the best HWs out there aside from Fury/Wilder/Joshua. Note: As a fan of Usyk, I really don’t wanna see any “Joshua ducking” threads if/when the WBO title goes vacant.
Fight should be made with ease then. Solid HW match-up where a loss shouldn't hinder either's career as they both have years ahead of them as opposed to behind them.
That's the most logical outcome. Joshua fights his IBF mandatory (£24,99), Usyk fights "Spiderman" Parker for the vacant WBO (£19,99), and we get a big PPV "unification" fight for the IBF, WBA, IBO and WBO belts afterwards, for a one off price of £29,99.
Chisora deserves the title shot more than Parker does.. Usyk vs Parker would be a decent stay busy fight, but not for the title...
Good fight. Parker can be guilty of being too passive at times I think Chrisora would really go after Usyk and try and put the hurt on him. Park is more inclined to box him - a good fight tho and will give us a better idea of where Usyk sits in the division.
Let's just say this like it should be said. Anthony Joshua is well aware nobody wants to see him predictably knock out the ancient and never-so-good Kubrat Pulev, but he clearly feels more threatened by Oleksandr Usyk. However, the boxer world would love to see him matched against the latter. It's a duck, plain and simple.
looks like Usyk just got an upgrade, and so did the fans... not only do we get to see a title fight, but also Usyk now has a top 10 opponent. I don't see what advantage parker has over usyk, including height, (when the 2 stood next to each other ath AJ vs Ruiz I weigh in, they were identical in height and width)... Usyk is faster, smarter, higher punch output... this is a do or die fight for Parker. if he loses, where does he go from here? there's not much left for him except to fight Chisora LOL
Now watch all the Whyte lapdogs cry about Chisora, their other 'mistreated' hack they cry rivers for. Chisora deserves nothing, he has about nine losses and recently beat battle worn Spilk while on roids and then Price.
So Joshua has 2 mandatory defences to make and has to pick one. Does that mean he definitely loses a strap? It will look like a duck if he picks Pulev over Usyk. That's clearly the tougher fight. The problem with taking Pulev is that it's not much of test. Cant see Pulev, who went the distance against Hughie Fury, taking to much punishment before going down. AJ has to face the big fights at some point.