BoxRec

What is it?

It's Joseph Parker vs Razvan Cojanu for the WBO heavyweight title.

When is it?

It's on Saturday May 6th.

What time does it start?

Sometime after 11am BST. Yes, am. The fight is in Auckland, hence the earlier start.

What TV channel is it on?

Sky Sports announced this week that it will be broadcasting the fight on Saturday morning. Coverage begins at 11am on Sky Sports 3.

Why does this matter?

Anthony Joshua's victory over Wladimir Klitschko last Saturday night has put the UK at the forefront of the heavyweight division. Joshua now has two belts - IBF and WBA - with Deontay Wilder holding the WBC belt.

Parker holds the fourth - the WBO title - and has been talked about as a potential future opponent for Joshua and Tony Bellew.

What are the odds?

Parker win - 1/100
Cojanu win - 16/1
Draw - 33/1

Dreadful fight even for a late replacement. It's a world heavyweight title ffs. Surely they could've dug up somebody half decent at least.

Stuarty30 wrote:Dreadful fight even for a late replacement. It's a world heavyweight title ffs. Surely they could've dug up somebody half decent at least.

Sky Sports are only showing it to showcase Parker cus he's a potential AJ oppinent.. Otherwise, Box-Nation would have had it..

I'd rather watch Briggs vs. Oquendo.

Predictions? I thought Parker ko 1... but then I saw Cojanu' s only KO loss was 2nd round with a perfect shot from a puncher (although chinny.) And he's 6ft 7 plus.

Still 5-1 round 1 for a late notice fight and having to fly across the world...... decent price?

Ruthless-RKO wrote:

Stuarty30 wrote:Dreadful fight even for a late replacement. It's a world heavyweight title ffs. Surely they could've dug up somebody half decent at least.

Sky Sports are only showing it to showcase Parker cus he's a potential AJ oppinent.. Otherwise, Box-Nation would have had it..

I'd rather watch Briggs vs. Oquendo.

Aye same mate. That's gash as well but at least it's semi interesting. Gutted its not Fury this weekend.

boxingknockout wrote:Predictions? I thought Parker ko 1... but then I saw Cojanu' s only KO loss was 2nd round with a perfect shot from a puncher (although chinny.) And he's 6ft 7 plus.

Still 5-1 round 1 for a late notice fight and having to fly across the world...... decent price?

Parker in 4 I reckon.

Stuarty30 wrote:

boxingknockout wrote:Predictions? I thought Parker ko 1... but then I saw Cojanu' s only KO loss was 2nd round with a perfect shot from a puncher (although chinny.) And he's 6ft 7 plus.

Still 5-1 round 1 for a late notice fight and having to fly across the world...... decent price?

Parker in 4 I reckon.

Not a bad call - 5-1 at paddy

Cojanu was also down heavily against someone named Paula Mataele, and I don't doubt that Parker can find him with big, loaded up shots similar to the one Dennis landed

One reservation I'd have about it being a first round job is that Parker and Cojanu have been in camp together, and seem friendly. Maybe Parker doesn't go as hard on him as he could...

Those odds! Complete gash, gutted in not Fury.

Absolutely garbage fight.

Dull fight, but considering Joseph Parker's less than stellar performance last time out I'm sure he's not too upset about hearing he'll be facing an easier mark this time out.

Let's hope it's a bigger fight next time or at least that the Hughie Fury fight that was initially scheduled can come back together again.

Stuarty30 wrote:Dreadful fight even for a late replacement. It's a world heavyweight title ffs. Surely they could've dug up somebody half decent at least.

Who? The stipulation for the fight was that you had to be willing to fly all the way to the other side of the planet at around ten days notice.

Yes it's a dreadful fight but the mitigating circumstances around it are absolutely massive.

Regarding the broadcast for potential Joshua opponent - I honestly reckon Parker fights Bellew next rather than Joshua. I think the Hearn plan will be Parker over here vs Bellew, Parker wins and he gets lined up with Joshua, Bellew wins he drops the title and possibly retires.

Parker fought a tougher opponent when he took on a 50 yr old Frans Botha. Can we not discuss this fight and reconvene when things get interesting?

crusader wrote:Cojanu was also down heavily against someone named Paula Mataele, and I don't doubt that Parker can find him with big, loaded up shots similar to the one Dennis landed

One reservation I'd have about it being a first round job is that Parker and Cojanu have been in camp together, and seem friendly. Maybe Parker doesn't go as hard on him as he could...

Hmmmm good point - I had no idea. It seems like this fight night as well be an exhibition or a fixed fight..

dirk2686 wrote:

Stuarty30 wrote:Dreadful fight even for a late replacement. It's a world heavyweight title ffs. Surely they could've dug up somebody half decent at least.

Who? The stipulation for the fight was that you had to be willing to fly all the way to the other side of the planet at around ten days notice.

Yes it's a dreadful fight but the mitigating circumstances around it are absolutely massive.

Regarding the broadcast for potential Joshua opponent - I honestly reckon Parker fights Bellew next rather than Joshua. I think the Hearn plan will be Parker over here vs Bellew, Parker wins and he gets lined up with Joshua, Bellew wins he drops the title and possibly retires.

Obviously I'm not aware of other guys circumstances but it's a world heavyweight title shot. I'm thinking if they tried they could've found someone better than this guy. Didn't Breazeale say he was willing to step in? Feck knows. It's a dog shít fight.

Fujimoto vs Purcell had the WBO Asia Pacific title added to it this morning, so I imagine Parker vs Fujimoto might be getting targeted soon...another poor bout.

Boxing Prospect wrote:Fujimoto vs Purcell had the WBO Asia Pacific title added to it this morning, so I imagine Parker vs Fujimoto might be getting targeted soon...another poor bout.

Thats a fight I don't think anyone would care to see

Stuarty30 wrote:

dirk2686 wrote:

Stuarty30 wrote:Dreadful fight even for a late replacement. It's a world heavyweight title ffs. Surely they could've dug up somebody half decent at least.

Who? The stipulation for the fight was that you had to be willing to fly all the way to the other side of the planet at around ten days notice.

Yes it's a dreadful fight but the mitigating circumstances around it are absolutely massive.

Regarding the broadcast for potential Joshua opponent - I honestly reckon Parker fights Bellew next rather than Joshua. I think the Hearn plan will be Parker over here vs Bellew, Parker wins and he gets lined up with Joshua, Bellew wins he drops the title and possibly retires.

Obviously I'm not aware of other guys circumstances but it's a world heavyweight title shot. I'm thinking if they tried they could've found someone better than this guy. Didn't Breazeale say he was willing to step in? Feck knows. It's a dog shít fight.

He wanted more time to prepare I believe..

I'll give this a watch. Morning and mid-afternoon boxing on a Saturday is a rare treat! Parker is raw but fun to watch. The opponent isn't great but at least the fight goes on at such short notice after Fury "hurt his back."

Expecting Parker to walk this without breaking a sweat. A nice little build up to the afternoon footy.

I cant see Cojanu giving Parker any problems whatsoever and i'd be surprised if Parker didn't KO him within 4 rounds, I remember Cojanu fighting in ESPN's Boxcino tournament a couple of years ago and he was awful, he got KTFO in the semis

I had Parker beating Ruiz Jr wider than most but there were still flaws there, if Andy had been able to press more then it could've been him as world champ, Parker did pace himself better that fight than when he fought Takam over 12 when he gassed though

I cant see Parker's engine being an issue here as he should KO Cojanu early

Good to see a HW champ setting the tone with a mate, I mean opponent, who makes Wilder's bums of the month look like superfights.

No doubt Hearn telling his hapless assistant adam smith, "Buy the f***ing fight! ..who cares if it's shite, it'll make AJ look good ! Now get on the f****ing phone and pay whatever it costs you inbred nutless monkey"

Got to feel for Parker but surely you'd just scrap the date and give more time to get a more worthy opponent!

At least you get to see it for free. The AJ fight cost $35 here in NZ, and they have the audacity to charge $50 for this garbage. There is quite a lot of local backlash about it though Parker has such loyal fans that I doubt Sky will suffer.
Check Parker's Farcebook page if you don't believe me.
Joe's the best, blah blah blah...

AJ vs Wlad has nothing on Parker vs Big Raz