BoxRec

Hearn Isn't Ruling Out Future Rematch Between Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker

From the outside looking in, it seemed as though Otto Wallin was going to give Anthony Joshua hell in the ring. The two officially met up in the main event slot last weekend in the Kingdom Arena, in Saudi Arabia.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s long time promoter, didn’t believe his man would get beat, but his palms were a bit sweaty once the opening bell rang. The jittery nerves of Hearn, however, were calmed as Joshua dominated the highly-ranked contender, eventually stopping him in the fifth round.

Although his performance was terrific, Joseph Parker may have stolen the show. In the co-main event, it was essentially a foregone conclusion that Deontay Wilder would violently stop him, possibly early. Parker though, didn’t follow the script.

The former heavyweight champ was the busier fighter, the stronger fighter, and the flat-out better fighter on the night. Prior to the show getting going, Hearn revealed that both Wilder and Joshua signed a two-fight deal to finally get it on.

With Wilder seemingly off the table now, Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) becomes an interesting name. Of course, Joshua got the better of Parker back in 2018. The 31-year-old is back to being a hot commodity though. Still, that doesn’t mean he’ll land another shot at Joshua as soon as he would probably like.

“Yea look, you never rule out anything,” said Hearn to Boxing Social. “But I don’t think it’s on the immediate radar.”

According to Hearn, it’ll take more than just a handful of recent good performances for Parker to get back in the mix. For now, team Joshua is aiming for a showdown with Filip Hrgovic for a possibly vacant title.

With that said, Parker isn’t totally out of the loop. If he wants to get his hands on Joshua once again, he’ll just have to put in a bit more work.

“If Joe keeps winning, for sure.”

I think Parker is going to need another big win before he's box office. Possibly a rematch with Joyce or a fight with Zhang, as nobody else wants those two.

Flump wrote: ↑02 Jan 2024, 09:38 I think Parker is going to need another big win before he's box office. Possibly a rematch with Joyce or a fight with Zhang, as nobody else wants those two.

I don’t think many of the top 10 would be scared of Joyce now.

maverick23 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2024, 09:41

Flump wrote: ↑02 Jan 2024, 09:38 I think Parker is going to need another big win before he's box office. Possibly a rematch with Joyce or a fight with Zhang, as nobody else wants those two.

I don’t think many of the top 10 would be scared of Joyce now.

No, but they'd still want paying, just in case.

Have no interest in that at the moment. If there's a rematch i'd rather see Parker rematch Ruiz. A Joshua vs Zhang rematch from the Olympics would be ok aswell.

nah ed let's get us some fresh fights

He went very close to ruling it out. Sounded like he had no desire for it and only way it would happen is if ordered for a belt.

I'd have Aj v Kabayel and Parker v zhang next

The winner of Parker v Zhang would constitute a fairly decent fight with Joshua. Superfight maybe?

For now, team Joshua is aiming for a showdown with Filip Hrgovic for a possibly vacant title.
Pretty clear, pretty logical.

Joshua will likely end up back at the top of the pile. He seems determined. He is aware of his shortcomings and has adapted suitably. He's a better fighter now.

Ezzard wrote: ↑03 Jan 2024, 05:57 Joshua will likely end up back at the top of the pile. He seems determined. He is aware of his shortcomings and has adapted suitably. He's a better fighter now.

If Fury and Usyk retire after their two fights then Joshua would be back with a good chance of collecting up a few belts. Zhang will be made the WBO champ, Joshua vs Hrgovic for IBF, WBC will likely end up with Anderson, WBA could be Bakole/Parker. Joshua will be the biggest name so biggest purse so can pick up his opponents. Likely still got it in him to beat all of them, except maybe Anderson who will make it interesting.

If Joshua faces Hrgovic on the Saudi card and unifies the vacant IBF belt with Zhang's interim WBO belt then he would be halfway there already. He could probably get the WBA Regular promoted to Super if he beat Charr.

joshj909 wrote: ↑03 Jan 2024, 10:15

Ezzard wrote: ↑03 Jan 2024, 05:57 Joshua will likely end up back at the top of the pile. He seems determined. He is aware of his shortcomings and has adapted suitably. He's a better fighter now.

If Fury and Usyk retire after their two fights then Joshua would be back with a good chance of collecting up a few belts. Zhang will be made the WBO champ, Joshua vs Hrgovic for IBF, WBC will likely end up with Anderson, WBA could be Bakole/Parker. Joshua will be the biggest name so biggest purse so can pick up his opponents. Likely still got it in him to beat all of them, except maybe Anderson who will make it interesting.

If Joshua faces Hrgovic on the Saudi card and unifies the vacant IBF belt with Zhang's interim WBO belt then he would be halfway there already. He could probably get the WBA Regular promoted to Super if he beat Charr.

Broadly agree but Hrg is accurate with his right. Will be a great fight. AJ and Zhang might be a 50-50. I don't think anyone will want to fight Zhang.

Lots of live fights out there in HW-land.

Ezzard wrote: ↑03 Jan 2024, 10:26 I don't think anyone will want to fight Zhang.

Many will want to fight Zhang, if the Saudi will pay them.
An earthquake has occurred in HW-land. Now the landscape has completely changed.

First fight was shite, AJ was obviously the better fighter. Parker is game and a solid pro but the wilder fight flatters him.

I'd love to see AJ in with Dubois. Joce would be ok and obviously Zhang but Dubois would be my first choice.

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑03 Jan 2024, 10:39 First fight was shite, AJ was obviously the better fighter. Parker is game and a solid pro but the wilder fight flatters him.

I'd love to see AJ in with Dubois. Joce would be ok and obviously Zhang but Dubois would be my first choice.

I agree. I think everyone wildly overrated Wilder but Parker beating him is more of a reflection of Wilder rather than Parker. Parker is not suddenly a top top guy, it's more that Wilder is not and probably never was. He's a fringe top 5 guy and pretty much always has been. I still think Zhang > Joyce > Parker > Wilder as those results have all been relatively recent and none of them seem to have drastically changed their style or anything since then. That's why we need those four back in against other top 5 (Zhang), 10 (Joyce/Parker) and 15 (Wilder) guys to show us where they are actually at.

I'd rather see Joe fight DDD.

joshj909 wrote: ↑03 Jan 2024, 11:11

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑03 Jan 2024, 10:39 First fight was shite, AJ was obviously the better fighter. Parker is game and a solid pro but the wilder fight flatters him.

I'd love to see AJ in with Dubois. Joce would be ok and obviously Zhang but Dubois would be my first choice.

I agree. I think everyone wildly overrated Wilder but Parker beating him is more of a reflection of Wilder rather than Parker. Parker is not suddenly a top top guy, it's more that Wilder is not and probably never was. He's a fringe top 5 guy and pretty much always has been. I still think Zhang > Joyce > Parker > Wilder as those results have all been relatively recent and none of them seem to have drastically changed their style or anything since then. That's why we need those four back in against other top 5 (Zhang), 10 (Joyce/Parker) and 15 (Wilder) guys to show us where they are actually at.

Dont get me wrong i think the old deontay would have starched parker, but he's looked done.

Wouldn't it be great if the Saudis put on 4 big shows a year having 4/5 big heavyweight fights on.
It's what dreams are made of and would really sort everything out

Coco wrote: ↑03 Jan 2024, 12:52 Wouldn't it be great if the Saudis put on 4 big shows a year having 4/5 big heavyweight fights on.
It's what dreams are made of and would really sort everything out

Do it for every division for me!

jwfg wrote: ↑03 Jan 2024, 11:21 I'd rather see Joe fight DDD.

Me too. Sad thing is neither are capable of selling it. It'd fill the O2 if they could.

deadpan wrote: ↑03 Jan 2024, 13:21

jwfg wrote: ↑03 Jan 2024, 11:21 I'd rather see Joe fight DDD.

Me too. Sad thing is neither are capable of selling it. It'd fill the O2 if they could.

I think fans would turn out for that one. A good chief support and some ticket sellers on the undercard and it would do well IMO.

Coco wrote: ↑03 Jan 2024, 12:52 Wouldn't it be great if the Saudis put on 4 big shows a year having 4/5 big heavyweight fights on.
It's what dreams are made of and would really sort everything out

And PPV price would be minus £30.

please no...

Parker needs more time and experience to make it competitive.
Easy to forget Parker is only 31.
He is the baby of the top 5
I'll have to get John Fury's advice on if Joe has his man-strength yet, I suspect according to John, not yet...

KiwiRider wrote: ↑04 Jan 2024, 17:23 Parker needs more time and experience to make it competitive.
Easy to forget Parker is only 31.
He is the baby of the top 5
I'll have to get John Fury's advice on if Joe has his man-strength yet, I suspect according to John, not yet...

hahahaha it's 55 for Fury man-strength