WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (23-0, 18 KOs) has once again been scheduled to defend his title against Hughie Fury (20-0, 10 KOs) on September 23 in Manchester, England, ESPN reports. Fury had previously be lined up to challenger Parker in his native New Zealand this past May, but Fury pulled out of that fight just a couple weeks before citing back injury.
Or maybe, you know, it had a little something to do with his trainer Peter Fury’s inability to gain entry into the host country...
Either way, Fury is expected to have an tune-up fight first on July 8th at The Copper Box against an opponent to be determined, before going after Parker’s title belt.
"The idea of going to the U.K. is something I am looking forward to and, no, I don't hold any grudges," Parker said, referring to Fury's withdrawal from the fight in May that was supposed to be in New Zealand. "I just go in there, respect my opponent and do what I have to do. That's go in there and win the fight and defend my title and keep it here [in New Zealand]. The crowd against me? I will use it as energy and motivation to put on a great show and fight hard.”
Promoter Frank Warren says he expects the WBO title to be back in the hands of the Fury family by the end of the year.