ZACH PARKER is targeting a move to light-heavyweight in 2024, a division in which he was close to signing for a huge opportunity on the December 23 card in Saudi Arabia.

โ€œI got offered the [Dmitry] Bivol fight but they went with Lyndon Arthur,โ€ Parker told Boxing News. โ€œIt was literally going through my lawyers, about to get signed, but it slipped away. Itโ€™d have been a nice Christmas present.โ€

Despite being hit by a number of rapid-fire combinations and going down in the 11th round, Arthur toughed it out. The Mancunian heard the final bell but lost 120-107 on all three scorecards. Parker, meanwhile, has only competed in the light-heavyweight class in bouts over four, six and eight rounds.

Known for his work at 168lbs, Parker suffered disappointment in his most high-profile bout to date, when a broken right hand saw him pulled out after four rounds against John Ryder in November 2022. Parker hasn’t ruled out another run at a super-middleweight belt but accepts he’s slipped down the pecking order. โ€œI see [David] Benavidez as the top guy at super-middleweight at the minute,” he said. “Obviously, Caneloโ€™s got all of the belts [and] heโ€™s going to do his own thing.โ€

Parker is still upbeat about his future. He eased back to action in September 2023 when, weighing 172lbs, he stopped Khalid Graidia in seven rounds. The 29-year-old, 23-1 (17), could fight in Birmingham in March.

โ€œI want big fights now. Iโ€™ve said to my team I want at least top 10 [opponents]. I donโ€™t want to wait around anymore. Iโ€™m 30 next year, I want to push on. I want to get a big title under my belt and then compete with the big boys.

โ€œThereโ€™s some big fights at light-heavyweight. Thereโ€™s [Anthony] Yarde. Iโ€™ll have any of them. Iโ€™m massive for super-middle as it is but Iโ€™m gonna go where the money is, where the big fights are.”