Parker reacts to Chisora’s meltdown during press conference

By Boxing News - 09/11/2019 - Comments

By Jim Dower: Joseph Parker says it’s partly a good thing that Dereck Chisora blew up during Monday’s press conference to promote the October 26 card at the O2 Arena in London, England.  Chisora wants his fight with former WBO heavyweight belt holder Parker (26-2, 20 KOs) to be the headliner on the card next month. Hearn has the lightweight title fight between Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis as the main event on the Sky Box Office card, and Parker-Chisora as the chief support.

Dereck Chisora hasn’t pulled out of card yet

Chisora says he wants either a pay raise or to be put in the headline fight or else he’ll pull out of the card. After hearing that Chisora is asking for more money, Parker says he wants his purse to be increased too if Hearn gives Dereck a bump up in pay.

Parker wants increase in pay if Chisora gets one

“He’ll fight. This is a fight that both of us really wanted, and I guess he has a point,” said Joseph Parker to Fighthype about Chisora being upset at not being headliner on October 26th Matchroom card. “With his fan base and my fan base, we have a lot of hardcore boxing supporters and casual supporters. But you can’t really take that away from those guys [Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor]. That’s a unification, and this is a massive fight for them. It’s our job as fighters to train hard for the fight, and it’s up to the promoters to decide who’s the main event and co-main event on the card. I think he does have a point.

If we were on our own card, of course, we’d headline the show. Hey, Eddie, if Chisora gets one, I need one as well,” said Parker about Chisora saying he won’t fight on the October 26 card unless he gets a pay raise. He’s a fighter that you have to expect the unexpected. He’s full of surprises. You don’t know who’s going to turn up. A calm one or maybe if he’s going to try and create some entertainment. Who knows? I think fighting guys like him will bring the best out of me. He comes forward, and throws a lot of punches. I’m going to be ready for it. I have to be ready for it,” said Parker.

Parker vs. Chisora won’t have a title on the line

Chisora and Parker’s fight lacks the credentials that the Prograis vs. Taylor match-up has going for it. Those two are fighting in a light welterweight unification, and they’re also fighting for the Ring Magazine title and the Muhammad Ali trophy. Prograis-Taylor are fighting in the final of the World Boxing Super Series. Chisora and Parker’s fight is a match between two guys who recently lost to Dillian Whyte.

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Chisora’s rant great for publicity says Parker

“So the best is going to come out. It was unexpected, but I got a laugh,” said Parker. “Here he goes again,” said Parker about Chisora exploding at Monday’s news conference. “But he attracts a lot of attention, and now the public is debating, ‘who should be the main event and who should not be the main event.’ It creates a lot of interest, and gets people interested in the fight. I think it fired up a lot of fans, and a lot of them want to see us in the main event. But it’s up to the promoter,” said Parker.

 

Tyson Fury too good for Otto Wallin says Parker

“He has an undefeated record, and he’s ranked number #4. We haven’t really seen a lot of him,” said Parker about Wallin. “For me, Fury is #1 on the list. I think he’s just too good. His movement is spectacular. He throws a lot of punches with his herky-jerky style. I think he’s going to be too good. I think the big fights are ahead of us. Depending on how I do, there’s bigger fights out there for me. I’m sharpening my tools, still learning, and still progressing, gaining my knowledge and ring craft,” said Parker.

Fury obviously is the favorite in his fight against the unbeaten Wallin. Top Rank picked Wallin as Fury’s opponent, and they’re not taking any chances with the 6’9″ British heavyweight. They want Fury to win and look spectacular in order to increase the PPV buys for his rematch with WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder next February. Wallin is another guy with a pumped up record filled with nobodies.