Parker predicts Joshua may shock Usyk, bookmakers in rematch

Heavyweight title challenger Joseph Parker has predicted that Nigeria-born former heavyweight champion of the world Anthony Joshua may shock the boxing world on August 20 by reclaiming his world title from defending champion Oleksandr Usyk who is bookmakers' favourite to win. 

Joshua and Usyk will collide for the second time at what is being billed as the Rage on the Red Sea on August 20 as Joshua travels to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in an attempt to recapture the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles that he lost last September.

Usyk is considered by many to be the favourite but at that weight class, it’s near-enough impossible to accurately predict what’s going to happen when there are so many factors to consider.

Joseph Parker, who fought and lost to Anthony Joshua back in March 2018, has some thoughts regarding the match-up and who he thinks will walk away with the victory.

“He [Joshua] was a good champion and he can be champion again. It’s just that it’s up to him now. It’s up to him and his new team to make the changes that he needs to attack what Usyk’s going to bring. There’s a lot of support for him. Everyone’s supporting him here in the UK. But also Usyk’s got a lot of support as well from his home so we’ll see what happens.”

“I would have to side with Usyk [winning] just because of the confidence that he’s going to come in with from the first fight. But it’ll be interesting,” Parker said.

Interestingly enough, a win for Parker in his next outing could set up a showdown with the winner of Usyk vs Joshua 2.

That’s because he’ll meet Joe Joyce in a highly-anticipated contest that will take place on September 14 in Manchester. Parker hasn’t been beaten inside the squared circle since suffering consecutive defeats to AJ and Dillian Whyte, and across that six-fight win streak, it’s safe to say that the 30-year-old has improved substantially.