Hughie Fury and David Price must wait for Joseph Parker to finalise plans for first WBO title defence
Thursday 22 December 2016 23:51, UK
Joseph Parker's promoters expect to discuss plans for his first title defence in January, with Hughie Fury and David Price in contention to challenge the WBO champion.
The British duo have been named on a shortlist of possible opponents for Parker, who is likely to defend his WBO heavyweight belt on April 8 after claiming the vacant title with a points win over Andy Ruiz Jr this month.
Parker's promoters, Duco Events, are seeking 'clarification' on whether Fury is the WBO mandatory challenger and will continue to assess a number of alternative fights.
"We are looking at every option," Duco Events' director David Higgins told Sky Sports. "As a boxing promoter, the worst thing you can do is only negotiate with one party.
"That might give the Fury camp the misguided idea that they have got a lot of leverage - they are the only cab on the rank - they're not. We will look at any opponent, if the deal is right.
I would hope by middle of January we will have a better idea which way we are heading.
"When the WBO ordered Parker-Ruiz, it was agreed then that the next fight would be David Haye. We're puzzled, but he seems to have done a runner and gone a different direction. Maybe he was worried that Joseph would beat him.
"That leaves Hughie Fury as the possible mandatory. We are seeking clarification on that situation as well, but if we were to unify, we would chase [Deontay] Wilder. We are basically in the process of weighing up the options and the pros and cons of each."
Duco Events have teamed up with influential Top Rank boss Bob Arum and will be holding further talks with him next month as they plot Parker's next move.
"I would hope by middle of January we will have a better idea which way we are heading," said Higgins.
"I'm going to head to LA in early January, so I will probably catch up with Bob Arum in Beverly Hills. Then we'll chat about all the options and come to a decision."
Haye was originally in pole position to face Parker, but opted for a big domestic clash with Tony Bellew on March 4, live on Sky Sports Box Office, and Higgins remains open to a possible fight with the Londoner later this year.
"We will fight David Haye, anywhere, any time, but that's a question for David Haye," said Higgins.
"Certainly if Haye has his fight and wins, and Parker wins, then we would be happy to look at Haye next. That's up to David Haye."
