Joseph Parker has experienced the rush of becoming a world champion, and of defending that very title between the ropes. Now, with the heavyweight division going from strength to strength, he wants that feeling again.
Parker (27-2, 21 KOs) held the WBO heavyweight strap from December 2016 until March 2018, when he was defeated for the very first time by current champ Anthony Joshua. He would then also lose his very next fight against Dillian Whyte, before bouncing back with three straight victories.
Ending the unbeaten record of compatriot Fa (19-0, 10 KOs) on Feb. 27 in Auckland would put Parker right back in the mix, though competition for the right to challenge Joshua and WBC titleholder Tyson Fury after their expected 2021 superfight is currently very stiff.
Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce are near the front of the line, while Whyte will also be right there if he can avenge his shock defeat to Alexander Povetkin on March 6.
Parker told Marc Gatford via My Betting Sites that he will take them all on, if need be.
He said: "I need guys like Joe Joyce, Oleksandr Usyk; I need guys like Dillian Whyte; there’s still a possibility we can fight Derek Chisora. He’s coming off a loss but his career has been revived. I’ll fight anyone, I'll fly to the UK or the US, or wherever when it’s safe to do so to get back to the top.
“My gut tells me it could possibly be Usyk or Joyce. My gut tells me when we get through this fight then it’s just a matter of getting the biggest fights. Usyk has really good movement and ring IQ, but If the opportunity arose I’d take that fight with both hands. With the movement and speed that I have I'd beat him, I'd be too much for him.
“Get through Junior Fa and I'd love the opportunity to fight Joe Joyce. He put on a great performance against Daniel Dubois; he showed good movement, good jab, lots of improvements and it would be a great fight.”
Chisora was set to face Parker in October 2019, but the Kiwi fighter was forced to withdraw after a spider bite left him feeling extremely unwell.
“Chisora is a live option," continued Parker. "My health just declined and I was unable to make it that night but I'd love to put that right against Derek.
“It was the doctor who said we were not fit and able to fight Chisora, I was begging him to let me fight ‘please, please, please’. We could not move the date, Chisora found another opponent and it messed up everything for us because we were getting some good momentum.
"And right then I just made a vow: ‘na, I’m never pulling out again.’ Not even if I have a small injury or something that’s bothering me, I'll fight through it because I know I can get through it.”