Boxing: Joseph Parker's manager David Higgins criticises Dereck Chisora's pursuit of Oleksandr Usyk

Joseph Parker's manager, David Higgins, claims Dereck Chisora would be accepting a "retirement fight", if he pursues Oleksandr Usyk, instead of fighting the Kiwi. 

Chisora and Parker were meant to fight last month at London's O2 Arena, but the latter was forced to withdraw due to a spider bite. 

British heavyweight Chisora went on to face compatriot David Price, claiming an impressive fourth-round TKO win.

Afterwards, Chisora expressed his desire to reschedule a fight against Parker, saying, "I hope he doesn't get another spider bite", but manager David Haye wanted his fighter to pursue another avenue. 

Haye preferred Chisora faced Ukranian Oleksandr Usyk - a former undisputed cruiserweight champion, who made his heavyweight debut in September. 

He added fighting Usyk made sense, as Haye tries to manoeuvre Chisora toward a world title shot.

Speaking to Sky Sports UK, Higgins warned Chisora's camp to "stop running". 

"Don't play games with Chisora's head, don't play games for two years with the British public," said Higgins. "Don't play games with Eddie Hearn, who has always done right by everyone.

"Stick to your word, both of you, and give the fans what they want.

"Stop running away, trying to take another option, because you think there might be a little bit more money. Chisora would probably lose to Usyk. 

"He might make a little bit more money, but that's like a retirement fight. When you take a fight you know you're going to lose, for a bit more money, you're basically saying, 'I'm retiring'.

"My message is - if Chisora and Haye choose to go with Usyk, they are putting up a white flag. Chisora is saying, 'I'm finished with boxing and I just want to take the money'."

Higgins anticipates Parker will be fit to return to the ring early next year. 

"If Parker wants to fight Chisora, he will. He's willing, ready, able and he's now even more keen to knock him out than he was before.

"If Haye and politics get in the way, and if Chisora wants to go and take a loss to Usyk - which he would - then Parker will fight someone else and it will be whoever is put in front of him."