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Certainly, even boxingThere are limits to “Mr. Nice Guy.” and as oleksandr usyk And the world title fight is still on hold joseph parkerHe may actually be moving towards that limit. Very slowly, very reluctantly, yes – but making changes nonetheless.
“My goal has been world champion, but the goal has changed,” explains Parker. IndependentOn a call with other journalists. “Now, I just want to curse out everyone in front of me – in a good way!”
Finally there is the softener. And while it’s reassuring to see New Zealanders maintain composure where others falter, You can’t blame Parker for starting such a rift,
As he recalls, his dream of becoming a two-time world heavyweight champion was “taken away from us two days before the fight”, in February. When Daniel Dubois withdrew from title defense due to illnessWhatever frustration the normally savvy Parker held, he took it out on DuBois’s short-notice replacement, Defeated boxing’s “most avoided heavyweight” in just two rounds,
The performance was as close as you’ll get to seeing a mean streak in Parker. From what happened next one can infer some kind of injustice. Dubois, despite his return, Second unsuccessful crack found in Usik after five monthsAt the same time, Parker was forced to wait – only for an injured Usyk to withdraw from talks with the Kiwis this summer, After being ordered to confront Parker.,
“The politics of boxing are quite remarkable,” says Parker (which, you can use a harsh adjective – we wouldn’t blame you!). “Sometimes, the better you do in boxing and the higher you go, the more politics take over. I’m not sure why Usyk waited so long. He’s a great champion and has done tremendous things. But for us — not only for the fighters at the top but All Heavyweight – We want to see some more movement with world titles. So, Usyk: Come on, man! come on! We need some action.
“No regrets [if the Usyk fight never happens]If Usyk is available? Great, break his face. But if he is not available, then whoever is in front of me.”
While Parker has worked hard, the decision to risk his place against Bakole in February was his, and it was his decision to risk it again on Saturday when he takes the field. fabio wardley Defending his WBO interim title against the Briton – at the O2 Arena in London. In fact, Parker thought little of the possibility of waiting for Dubois or Usyk.
“No, there’s no point staying late,” he tells Independent“Because if you wait and this fight doesn’t come, you’ve wasted all the time. And with the family… time goes by fast and kids grow up too fast. Time waits for no one. It’s the same in boxing. I was offered a fight in April, I said ‘yes’, and it didn’t happen. In May, in June, when I was offered all these fights, [I accepted],
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Wardley said yes backAnd so on Saturday, Parker returns to the scene of one of his three professional defeats: the O2, where Dillian Whyte defeated Parker in 2018, and where Whyte’s mentor Wardley will try to do the same.
Wardley will enter the fight against Justice Hauni in June on the back of a remarkable performance. An Ipswich Town fan who was competing in his football team’s stadium was badly beaten When he scored a sudden one-punch knockout in round 10With this, Wardley remained unbeaten, yet some shortcomings were evident.
Still, Parker advises not to evaluate Wardley based on that performance alone.
“I think people are judging him too harshly,” Parker says, “because if you look at other performances… someone like Fraser [Clarke] I’ve been in this game as an amateur for a long time, and so Fabio was able to fight from the first fight to the second fight, [he] made my adjustments and Scored a devastating knockout in the second fight,
In fact, Wardley draws draw with Clarke at O2 in March 2024In one of the fights of the year, only to eliminate “Eraser” in the first round of an October rematch. It was a disgusting shot that ended proceedingsAs Clark was hit in the head,
That was a fascinating display of Wardley’s power, as well as his neutralizing of Huni. “He was getting outboxed, but as they always say: ‘It only takes one punch,'” Parker shrugs. “This is a great example of a fight that takes one punch to change everything.”
Thus, and wisely, Parker insists: “I have my full attention on Wardley. I’m excited to see what he brings, what shape he’s in, how he’s been training. I want to see him head-to-head, get him in shape. He’s got a great team behind him, great belief, and I think it will be a very interesting fight.”
It may take a very specific kind of interesting for Parker to seal a fight with undisputed champion Usyk on Saturday. But whether it brings a brutal knockout or a contested brawl, it must lead to a victory for Parker.