WBO interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker followed up a career-best win against Deontay Wilder with another upset victory against Zhilei Zhang, but despite being contracted for a rematch, his promoter says that he is also looking at alternate opponents.
The New Zealander survived two knockdowns to claim a majority-decision victory over ‘Big Bang’ Zhang and position himself as mandatory challenger for the winner of the upcoming undisputed showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
Although, Zhang’s rematch clause was expected to force a second fight, whilst the victor of the Fury-Usyk saga is determined.
Yet, in an interview with Sky Sports, Parker’s promoter David Higgins says there were ways to work around the rematch clause with Zhang, and was quizzed on a potential rematch with Joe Joyce after Parker suffered the lone stoppage defeat of his career against him.
“The contract is for the Zhang rematch but these things do vary if everyone agrees.
“If there was a better option then we would look at the better option as long as everybody agrees. Those discussions are to be had.
“He’s interim WBO champion which means he’s the automatic mandatory for the WBO title so if he’s prepared to wait and things operate as they should he should be offered a title shot in due course.
“But it doesn’t feel that way such is the way boxing works, even if you beat the best you have to be patient.”
After a rough 2023, Joyce bounced back to winning ways against Kash Ali last weekend, and admitted that he would be open to a potential rematch against the resurgent Parker during the aftermath of his victory.