Boxing: Joseph Parker scraps US bout to face Dillian Whyte

Joseph Parker
Kiwi heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker. Photo credit: Photosport

Another name has entered the Joseph Parker sweepstakes, with Dillian Whyte emerging as a late candidate to fight the Kiwi.

Despite unconfirmed reports that Parker had signed to fight American Bryant Jennings in the United States later this year, it appears his team are pursuing a far greater carrot.

"We have other real options on the table," promoter David Higgins told Stuff.

A source close to Duco Events told Newshub that a fight with Jennings was unlikely, as the American wasn't bringing anything to the table.

Newshub understands that Team Parker are hoping to position themselves to fight for a mandatory title shot.

This is where the Whyte bout makes sense.

The Eddie Hearn stablemate of Anthony Joshua is ranked in the top four in three of boxing's big four organisations and is the number one-ranked contender to Deontay Wilder's WBC strap.

Hearn is expected to announce Whyte's next fight early Friday morning (NZT), and Parker's name has been thrown around by British boxing pundits over the likes of Luiz Ortiz and Alexander Povetkin.

When asked by BoxingScene on Wednesday (NZT) about Ortiz being positioned as Whyte's opponent, Hearn replied: "No, I'll see you tomorrow."

Newshub understands that Parker and Higgins are currently in London, after leaving earlier this week, supposedly for Las Vegas.

Hearn has announced Whyte's next fight will take place at London's O2 Arena on July 28.

Both Whyte and Parker have one blemish on their records, having come up short against heavyweight kingpin Joshua.

Newshub.