I hate rematch clauses. But if there was not one for this fight, that raises questions about the way Joseph Parker is managed. Considering Dillian Whyte had one for Povetkin, Joe Joyce had one for Zhang.
I don’t think team Parker had any intention of losing and would have wanted to move straight onto Usyk. After a great fight and questionable stoppage I’d happily watch a rematch.
I don't think there was a rematch clause, I haven't read any news about it anywhere. Probably neither fighter was interested in a rematch clause, perhaps because both wanted to immediately aim for a world title shot if they won (in fact Wardley immediately challenged Usyk). Both fighters are managed by Frank Warren.
I'm talking about a one-way rematch clause in Parker's favour. As he was interim champion and mandatory challenger to Usyk. I'm not talking about a two-way two-fight series. Considering how solidly and legitimately was Parker's status as 'next challenger in line' , it is surprising. If he was a British fighter I believe they would have made sure he'd had it. Despite the recent respect he's be afforded, they didn't protect his interests like they (Hearn/Warren) had protected Whyte's and Joyce's.
I don't know if Parker tried to include a rematch clause in the case of his defeat, contracts are signed by two people. Parker was the interim WBO champion and Usyk's official WBO challenger, as was Kabayel, who is the interim WBC champion. In my opinion, they were both legitimate challengers for Usyk (Kabayel still is). The impression is that Usyk wasn't interested in a fight with Parker, most likely because the Ukrainian champion is looking for more lucrative fights. Turki Alalshikh had said he wasn't interested in organizing an Usyk-Parker matchup, now we'll see if Turki wants to organize an Usyk-Wardley matchup (and if he's interested, we'll most likely get Usyk-Wardley). Regarding Parker-Wardley I can only say that the referee's stoppage seemed a bit hasty.
Fabio was also interim champion (WBA), now he is presumably interim for both, with Kabayel WBC interim champion
Parker should have fought Agit for the Usyk shot Wardley should have chinned AJ over because it would be funny Fury will wait in the shadows till a ripe moment.
