Zhilei Zhang, Agit Kabayel and Martin Bakole all in the mix for Joseph Parker

Joseph Parker is growing impatient in regard to his next opponent. The New Zealander, in London to be ringside for the Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua showdown, defeated Deontay Wilder in December and Zhilei Zhang in March but is still none the wiser on who comes next.

“I was told there was there was a fight in September, then October, and now I’m told there was a fight in December,” Parker said at the Wembley open workouts. “I’ve been training since April and I’ve put on about 20 pounds… of muscle, I hope. I’m ready to fight anyone, anywhere, seriously. I’m in great shape and I’m ready to go.”

After outpointing Wilder, Parker did the same to Zhang. It has long been reported that “Big Bang” will trigger his right for a return but Parker indicated there are other names in the mix to face him on the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury undercard. 

“Zhang wants the rematch, he has that rematch clause,” Parker said. “I’m not sure what everyone else wants. I think there’s talk of Agit Kabayel, [Martin] Bakole, there’s lots of names. I’d like it locked in so I know who I’m training for.”

Parker believes that Fury will get his revenge over Usyk on December 21. “He’s a lot more focused and I think it will change everything,” Parker said of Fury. “He’s more determined to put on a better performance.”

As for Dubois-Joshua, Parker likes the man who outpointed him in 2017. “I feel like Joshua in the first five or six rounds, he’s looked very dangerous in his last fights,” Parker said. “I feel [if] Dubois [wins it will be] late rounds, he showed a great chin against Filip Hrgovic and great determination – and that power in the late rounds. He’s a live underdog and he’s got a lot to prove.

“Joshua has the power in the right hand but he can also box. When I fought him he was able to nullify what I was doing.”

Dubois has been on the crest of a wave, most notably while walking through the best that Filip Hrgovic could muster in March and winning via stoppage.

“Joshua has a lot more power than Hrgovic,” Parker observed. “I feel like if he lands like Hrgovic landed, Joshua will stop him. But if Dubois lands clean, he will test AJ’s chin – and can AJ then show the grit and determination to come back and win after being hurt.”

Whoever wins, 32-year-old Parker, who has earned a title shot, hopes to be ready and waiting. “I would love to fight the winner. I feel like, now, I’ve got a lot more power. I feel like I could knock people out.”