Boxing News - Latest Headlines

By Matt Lieberman: Joseph Parker would like a chance to avenge his loss to Dillian Whyte from 2018 by facing him in a rematch. Parker says he knows he can beat Whyte if given another opportunity at meeting him.

Whyte has no interest in facing Parker (27-2, 21 KOs) again, as he’s already earned the WBC mandatory position and will be fighting for a world title in 2021. As far as Whyte’s concerned, Parker needs to make a rematch against him by beating someone worthwhile like Derech Chisora.

Parker confident of beating Whyte

The New Zealand fighter Parker, 28, hasn’t done a lot to redeem himself since his consecutive defeats to Anthony Joshua and Whyte in 2018.

He’s won his last three fights in beating these no-name fighters:

• Alexander Flores
• Shawndell Terell Winters
• Alex Leapai

The former WBO heavyweight champion Parker (27-2, 21 KOs) doesn’t like the way his fight played out against Whyte (27-1, 18 KOs) in losing to him by a 12 round unanimous decision in July 2018 in London, England. Whyte beat Parker by the scores 114-111, 115-110, and 113-112.

Had the referee Ian John Lewis made the correct all in the 2nd round after Whyte crashed into Parker headfirst, the fight would have been closer. The head-butt from Whyte happened so quickly that the referee Lewis blew the call in, scoring it a knockdown.

“We had a great first fight, he was the better man on the day, but I believe I can beat him,” Parker told BBC Sport.

“I know that he wants to be champion of the world, but if no-one else wanted to fight him, I’m always here, always keen, and I am always ready. So I would love a rematch.”

“Leading into fights, I’m very serious and imagine if I did this before a fight, people would think he’s mucking around, he’s not taking it seriously,” Parker added.

Whyte got credit for a knockdown in round two of that fight, which was from a clash of heads with Parker. In the ninth, Whyte dropped Parker again with a left hook to the head. This time, the knockdown was from an actual punch and not another head-butt.

Parker returned the favor in the 12th in dropping Whyte hard with a powerful right. Whyte barely beat the count get to rise to his feet to avoid a stoppage.

Whyte with NO interest in facing Parker again

“I’ve beaten him up already, said Whyte to skysports.com on Parker. “Joseph Parker shouldn’t be struggling with guys like Shawndell Winters. Instead of prancing around his kitchen, he should go fight someone credible like Derek Chisora or Oscar Rivas.”

The remark from Whyte about Parker “prancing around” is related to the video that he recently posted on social media of him and his wife dancing in the kitchen during the lockdown of the sport. They produced a music video, and a lot of boxing fans have been complimentary of them on the quality. It looks like a real music video.

It’s perfectly understandable why Whyte doesn’t feel the need to face Parker again. He already beat Parker, and he’s done nothing to build himself back up due to the inferior quality of his three opponents since then.

Parker’s promoter Eddie Hearn should have already started matching him against world-class opposition to rebuild him, but he’s been taking it easy with him.