Parker vs Whyte: David Higgins confirms talks for Anthony Joshua rematch

  • 22/07/2018

Joseph Parker's promoter, David Higgins, has revealed Eddie Hearn has already held talks with him about the Kiwi facing Anthony Joshua at Wembley next year - if he can get past Dillian Whyte.

Parker and Whyte will meet at London's O2 Arena on July 29 (NZ time) in the Aucklander's first outing since losing his WBO belt to Joshua in April.

Hearn has booked Wembley Stadium in April 2019 for Joshua to fight an unnamed opponent, and next week's winner will undoubtedly be at the front of the queue of contenders for Joshua's WBO, WBA and IBF belts.

Higgins told RadioLIVE's Sunday Sport that talks are already underway between both camps about a potential rematch, but there are a few things that need to happen first.

"The winner of the fight will almost certainly go to number one in a couple of the sanctioning bodies," Higgins told Andrew Gourdie and Jim Kayes.

"If the champion is Joshua, [Eddie] Hearn and I have discussed the possibility, but then again, there is lots of water under the bridge.

"Joshua has to beat Alexander Povetkin, Parker has to be Whyte. We're not looking ahead of that, but Hearn's job is to look ahead and the boxers' is to focus on the current fight.

"If Joe knocked out Whyte emphatically, he could legitimately call for a rematch in short order and I don't think Eddie Hearn would be disagreeing with that."

Parker vs Whyte: David Higgins confirms talks for Anthony Joshua rematch

Earlier in the week, Dillian Whyte said Parker needed to accept responsibility for his loss against Joshua and stop blaming others.

"He never showed that tribal instinct or warrior instinct," Whyte told Sky Sports UK.

"I believe his mindset for that fight was to go 12 rounds - that was his victory for that fight.

"That's why I believe you didn't seem too bothered at the end of the fight. Don't blame the ref, blame yourself - you should have gone after him."

Higgins insists there will be no excuses made this time.

"He is in the best shape of his life. He knows what is at stake and Dillian Whyte will be hungry too - that is what makes it such a cracker of an event.

"There will be no excuses within. I think if you get robbed by a judge, then it can be a legit excuse, if it's shocking and genuine.

"The referee was terrible against Joshua, but we wouldn't use that as an excuse. It is worth pointing out, though, that it wasn't a level playing field.

"This time, Joe has done everything he can in the time available. He always takes a no excuse attitude.

"There will always be analysis after a fight, but I wouldn't use the word 'excuse' to describe it."

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