Boxing: Joseph Parker ready for 'war' against Dereck Chisora

Kiwi heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker has declared he's ready for "war" against Brit Dereck Chisora, should the pair agree to fight in April.

Last week, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn stated he wanted Parker to face 'Del Boy' on the undercard of Dillian Whyte's next fight in London as part of a heavyweight extravaganza.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the prospect of fighting Chisora, Parker told UK sports radio station talkSPORT this was the perfect fight, as he looked to climb back up the heavyweight rankings, after back-to-back losses in the UK last year.

"I think, at the moment, my team is focussing on Chisora," Parker told talkSPORT.

"I think that throws me straight into the mix again. Chisora's a guy who's been around for a long time, got a lot of experience.

"As long as it makes sense for both teams, I'm happy to go ahead. I'm ready for war, I know he likes to go to war."

Chisora is far more experienced than Parker, with 38 fights during his career, winning 29 and losing nine.

DIllian Whyte (L) and  Dereck Chisora (R).
DIllian Whyte (L) and Dereck Chisora (R). Photo credit: Reuters

Four of his defeats have come in his last eight fights - including twice to Whyte, who also beat Parker in 2018.

"The performance he put in with the last fight against Dillian Whyte, he looked good," Parker added.

"He looked like the pressure that he put on, the punches that he threw, he was actually leading on the cards, before he got knocked out.

"As a fighter, it looks like he's got a second wind in his career."

Parker added that he'd love the chance to fight Whyte once again, after their clash went down to the final seconds.

Whyte knocked the 27-year-old down twice, before he was dropped in the final round.

"It was a very close fight, and I would love the opportunity to rematch and to fight him again.

"I know I have to take steps to get back to the top and to get back to that level."

Parker also stated that there were "other options" on the table, but he seemed firmly focussed on fighting the 35-year-old Chisora.

Another name in the mix is Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, who is eying a heavyweight debut in May.

Usyk is a 16-0 cruiserweight world champion, but wants to move up a weight class to take on boxing's best.

Hearn shortlisted Parker as one of three opponents for Usyk - the others are Russian Alexander Povetkin and Cuban Luis Ortiz.

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Boxing: Joseph Parker ready for 'war' against Dereck Chisora