Negotiations between former WBO king Joseph Parker and Brit brawler Derek Chisora are underway.
The heavyweight showdown is earmarked for April 20 on a card potentially headlined by London’s Dillian Whyte.
“Chisora is a fight that we like and we are hearing it’s a fight that they like too,” said Kevin Barry, long-term trainer of New Zealand’s Parker.
“We are in talks with Eddie Hearn at the moment; apparently Sky are holding that date [April 20] for Whyte, and I know that Eddie is very keen to stack a good card full of heavyweights.”
Parker, 27, aims to get back to winning ways on UK soil after dropping decisions to unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and WBC’s perennial number one contender Dillian Whyte.
“Joe has built up a big fan base in the UK after being the only fighter to have ever gone the distance with Joshua, backed up with that battle against Whyte, which secured even more fans.
“We know what Derek Chisora brings, he’s a guy that looks rejuvenated at the moment. He is the fourth best heavyweight in the UK behind Joshua, Fury and Whyte, and he’s a fighter we have a lot of respect for.
“Chisora is very tough, durable and aggressive. I’m sure this will be a fight the boxing fans will like, but it is going to be important to learn the lessons from the Dillian Whyte fight,” continued Barry.
Whyte, who’s ranked fourth with the Ring Magazine, outpointed Parker in July last year. Both men tasted canvas in a gruelling affair that could have ended in favour of either heavyweight.Team Parker lamented Whyte’s roughhouse tactics but are eyeing a shot at redemption.
“We would dearly love to be looking across the ring at Whyte and that’s a fight that Joe really wants. But if a win over Derek Chisora helps us secure a fight with Whyte down the road then this is the path we have to take,” said Barry.
Whyte rejected three offers to face Watford’s Joshua at Wembley Stadium in April.
The Londoner will now likely square-off against Dominic Breazeale, Luis Ortiz, or Russia’s Alexander Povetkin instead.
Article by: Marc Gatford