AS a period of turbulence descends upon the heavyweight landscape, Joseph Parker has been left in the dark, not quite knowing which way to turn.
The New Zealander was supposed to face IBF titlist Daniel Dubois in February, but instead defended his WBO interim title with a second-round stoppage victory over late replacement Martin Bakole.
Since then, the former world champion has emerged as the mandatory challenger for two-division undisputed king Oleksandr Usyk, with their matchup having recently been ordered by the WBO.
However, it appears that Dubois, who is set to headline a stadium show in the UK this summer, is more likely to face the formidable Ukrainian next.
As a result, Parker, 36-3 (24 KOs), has been forced to consider alternative options, one of which being a possible rematch with Anthony Joshua.
The pair squared off in 2018, back when Joshua, 28-4 (25 KOs), claimed a wide unanimous decision victory in a spectacle which, in truth, failed to deliver even the dimmest of fireworks.
Parker, though, has proven to be far more assertive in recent years, with wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, in particular, injecting plenty of excitement back into his career.
A feeling of doubt over Joshua’s career, meanwhile, emerged shortly after his fifth-round stoppage defeat to Dubois last September.
But still, the 35-year-old represents perhaps the most lucrative option for Parker, who nonetheless remains determined to become a two-time world champion.
His team, on the other hand, is seemingly keen to explore the Joshua fight, with the 33-year-old’s manager, David Higgins, having expressed his interest in the potential rematch.
“What I would like to do is fight Dubois, and reschedule that fight,” Parker told Newstalk ZB. “I’d get his title, and then I can fight Usyk.
“Unfortunately, it looks like things are going to go the other way. It looks like Dubois will fight Usyk.
“[Joshua’s] the money fight, because he’s a big draw, he’s a big name and he puts bums on seats.
“I’m not looking for a money fight; I’m looking for a title fight. [But] the money men want the money, and the money men make the calls.
“If [Joshua’s] the only option, [I’ll take it].”
