Joseph Parker

Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker: Worlds Apart

Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker: Worlds Apart

It was always going to be a tough job for Joseph Parker: he was never going to be able to send fight fans home as happy and as excited as they were last Saturday night. Parker’s rival, WBA and IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua, gave the world a thrill with his terrific rumble with Wladimir Klitschko, and today Parker had the far less interesting task of dealing with late replacement foe Razvan Cojanu.

Parker, the WBO champ won okay, but the New Zealander looked far from impressive in labouring to a 12 round decision win. Worst still, Parker, 22-0 (18) put fans to sleep. No, it wasn’t all Parker’s fault – Cojanu was a replacement for Hughie Fury (who pulled out of the Parker fight with a bad back ) and the unheralded challenger used all of his 6’7″ to lean on smaller man Parker. It made for a dull fight.

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Joseph Parker – Razvan Cojanu today

Joseph Parker - Razvan Cojanu today

WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (22-0, 18 KOs) was outweighed by 29 pounds by his contender Razvan Cojanu (16-2, 9 KOs) at Friday’s weigh-in for their clash this Saturday night at the Vector Arena, in Auckland, New Zealand. Parker weighed 245.8 pounds. Cojanu weighed 274.6 lbs.

The 30-year-old challenger Cojanu, who is listed at 6’7 ½”, did not look in the greatest condition for the fight, but he was pulled in as a last minute replacement after the original opponent Hughie Fury pulled out of the fight because of a back injury.

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Razvan Cojanu to step in as late replacement for Joseph Parker?

Razvan Cojanu to step in as late replacement for Joseph Parker?

An official press conference has been set up for tomorrow in New Zealand, to officially announce WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker’s next move/fight. As fans know, the undefeated Parker is in need of a new challenger for May 6 due to original foe Hughie Fury pulling out with an injury.

A short-list of available last-minute opposition was in the possession of Duco Events, Parker’s promoter, and – according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com – a decision has been reached. According to “a source with knowledge of the deal” who spoke with ESPN today, Romania’s Razvan Cojanu, 16-2(9) will be the fighter who lands the short-notice title shot.

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Dominic Breazeale in the frame for Joseph Parker fight on May 6

Dominic Breazeale in the frame for Joseph Parker fight on May 6

As fans know, Britain’s unbeaten Hughie Fury was forced to pull out of his scheduled May 6 challenge of reigning WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker due to injury, leaving Team-Parker pretty much fuming – and looking for a late replacement challenger.

The show may still go on, and The New Zealand Herald has reported how US contender and former IBF title challenger Dominic Breazeale is one of the fighters in the frame for the fight early next month (just under two weeks away). Breazeale, beaten only by British star Anthony Joshua, holds decent wins over Amir Mansour and the tricky Fred Kassi, while in his last fight in February, he engaged in a thrilling slugfest that saw him beat Parker’s stablemate, Izu Ugonoh.

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Hughie Fury pulls out of Joseph Parker fight citing injury; Parker’s promoter angry

Hughie Fury pulls out of Joseph Parker fight citing injury; Parker's promoter angry

In disappointing news, it has been confirmed that Hughie Fury has withdrawn from his scheduled May 6 challenge of WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker. Citing an as yet undisclosed injury, Hughie, cousin of former world heavyweight king Tyson Fury, caused some concern by not having yet arrived in New Zealand when the champion already had. Now we know why the Furys had not yet touched down in New Zealand.

The fight, a clash of unbeatens, would have been an interesting affair, but now Parker is left looking for a late replacement. Parker’s promoter, David Higgins, is understandably angry at the pull-out news, and he has questioned Fury’s desire to face his fighter.

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Joseph Parker arrives in New Zealand ahead of Fury defence, wonders where Hughie is

Joseph Parker arrives in New Zealand ahead of Fury defence, wonders where Hughie is

A smiling, confident and upbeat Joseph Parker arrived in New Zealand earlier today, two full weeks ahead of his WBO heavyweight title defence against Britain’s Hughie Fury. Aside from telling the media how much he is looking forward to showing his stuff in the ring on May 6, the unbeaten champion spoke of his slight concern over the fact that Fury has not yet arrived in New Zealand.

It seems a little odd to both Parker and his trainer Kevin Barry, that Fury has not arrived well ahead of fight time so as to fully recover from the inevitable jet lag the flight from the UK to New Zealand causes.

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Parker vs Fury on May 6 in Auckland, New Zealand

Parker vs Fury on May 6 in Auckland, New Zealand

WBO World Heavyweight mandatory title challenger Hughie Fury will face the champion Joe Parker in Auckland, New Zealand, at the Vector Arena on Saturday 6th May, it was confirmed last night.

Undefeated Fury, from Manchester, will travel to the other side of the world as he looks to cause a massive upset against the similarly unbeaten and big-hitting Parker who is a superstar in his native homeland.

Fury aims to emulate cousin Tyson’s amazing feat of ending the reign of then division king Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015 when he travelled to Germany and tore all the belts from the seemingly invincible Ukrainian.

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Team-Parker open to Bellew fight, but focused on Fury defence right now

Team-Parker open to Bellew fight, but focused on Fury defence right now

The “circus” that man of the moment Tony Bellew openly says he hates, is looking for its next stop, and it could be that the cruiserweight champ who successfully shocked David Haye at the weekend gets a world heavyweight title shot next. Bellew said at Saturday’s post-fight presser that he knows his promoter Eddie Hearn will make him an offer he “cannot refuse,” and that this will keep him in the sport a little longer.

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Hughie Fury signs for WBO heavyweight title fight with Joseph Parker

Hughie Fury signs for WBO heavyweight title fight with Joseph Parker

Having been given a deadline by the WBO, unbeaten Hughie Fury today signed on the dotted line to challenge unbeaten WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker. Fury’s promoter Frank Warren announced how Hughie, cousin of former and still undefeated world champion Tyson Fury, signed today:

“Contract is now signed for @hughiefury to face @joeboxerparker for the @WorldBoxingOrg World Heavyweight Championship! #andthenew,” Warren wrote on twitter.

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