As far as Frank Warren is concerned a fight between Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker is dead in the water.
Representatives for both boxers had been trying to finalise a bout between the WBO number one and two contenders since it’s premature announcement on April 23 at Wembley Stadium.
The heavyweight showdown had been mooted for July 2 but needed to be put back because Parker’s trainer Andy Lee was to become a father again. The New Zealander left his UK training base to be with his own family and then announced he had signed with Ben Shalom and BOXXER giving him a platform on Sky Sports to showcase his future fights.
Joyce now fights Christian Hammer tomorrow night at Wembley Arena and at yesterday’s final press conference Boxing Social’s Andi Purewal asked Warren, Joyce’s promoter, how frustrating the Parker situation had become.
“Just wasted everybody’s time,” he reacted. “I don’t give a shit about Joe Parker and all that bullshit, it’s a dead issue for us.”
Saturday’s card also features a defining fight in the career of Jason Cunningham. The British, Commonwealth and European Super Bantamweight champion faces a step up in opposition when he tackles former two-weight world champion Zolani Tete.
“Good fight. Two road warriors,” Warren commented.
“Zolani’s done it the hard way. He’s travelled. People know him over here from a spectacular knockout he inflicted over Paul Butler. All his fights have been done on the road. Two-time world champion, his record speaks for itself. And you’ve got Jason Cunningham who’s always been the opponent, who’s turned himself into the a-side of a card and he’s worked really hard, and he’s done it the hard way. To be quite honest it’s a tough fight for both of them. It’ll be quite interesting. I’m looking forward to it.”