Joseph Parker, riding a wave of recent heavyweight victories, is aiming for a title fight against Oleksandr Usyk, the unified champion, rather than settling for a vacant belt. His coach, Andy Lee, believes Parker has earned this shot, especially after impressive wins against top contenders like Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole.
The WBO has mandated Parker as Usyk’s next challenger, but Usyk might opt for a rematch with Daniel Dubois, potentially leaving the WBO title vacant. Lee emphasizes that Parker’s primary goal is to face Usyk, as fans are eager to see that matchup.
If Usyk chooses another path, Parker could fight for the vacant WBO title. Justis Huni is currently the top contender, but Lee also addressed the possibility of Moses Itauma stepping up. While acknowledging Itauma’s talent and ambition to become the youngest heavyweight champion, Lee expressed concern about the potential risks of a fight against Parker. He believes it would be a significant leap in competition for the young fighter, and that a loss could be detrimental to Itauma’s career.
Lee referenced sparring sessions between Parker and Itauma, highlighting that while they were competitive, a full-fledged professional fight would be a different level of challenge. He fears that a fight against Parker could seriously hurt Itauma’s future potential.
