Heavyweight Joseph Parker has both a wish list and a preferred order in which to do things.

However, that doesn’t mean the New Zealander is reluctant to deviate from his plan, nor that he will wait around until his dream scenario materialises at exactly the right time. 

Back in February, an IBF heavyweight title shot against Daniel Dubois was scrapped when Dubois, the champion, fell ill and had to withdraw during fight week. Yet, it was Parker, the dejected challenger, who was the first to say: “The show must go on.” 

Many, in that same situation, would have perhaps waited for a rescheduled date for fear of losing the opportunity by fighting a replacement opponent. But no, not Parker. 

Instead, Parker not only elected to still fight on the date meant for Dubois but he accepted a fight against Congo’s Martin Bakole, arguably the most avoided fighter in the division at the time.

Now, seven months on, Parker is again having to prepare himself for every eventuality. 

His ideal fight is of course a shot at the world heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk, for whom he is the current WBO (World Boxing Organization) mandatory challenger. But if that fight cannot be made next due to Usyk’s reported injuries, Parker is happy to keep things moving and fight somebody else. 

It’s for that reason rumours of him boxing Fabio Wardley on October 25 persist. 

“I’m hoping to lock in a fight very soon,” Parker confirmed in a message to Boxing Scene’s Declan Warrington on Sunday. “I’m keen to fight Usyk, but if I can’t get him, anyone in the top five or ten in the world.”

Taking into account Wardley’s recent form, and his 19-0-1 (18 KOs) record, that would presumably include him. More top ten, than top five, Wardley is a dangerous puncher whose ability to turn a fight around with one shot was never better exemplified than when he knocked out Justis Huni in the final round of a fight he was losing in June. 

Beat Wardley and Parker, 36-3 (24), stands to enhance his reputation in the division and strengthen his claim for a shot at the world heavyweight title. Yet the fight – Plan B, if you will – is not without its risk, particularly given Wardley’s punch power, and Parker, at 33, can afford few mistakes or setbacks when so close to a heavyweight title challenge.

Indeed, as Parker aims to capitalise on his purple patch, there are other men either queuing up behind him or circling around him. One of these men, Moses Itauma, is a prospect of whom big things are expected and somebody Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi Arabian financier, has said he would like to see Oleksandr Usyk fight next. 

“Itauma is very talented,” admitted Parker. “If Usyk continues to keep fighting, it could be a fight down the line. But I would love to test myself against Usyk first.”

Be that as it may, Parker and Usyk have yet to even open talks for the fight – which was initially ordered on July 24 with a 30-day window to agree terms before a purse bid. Usyk’s team seem in no rush to change this, either. 

Serhii Lapin, director of Usyk's team and CEO of Ready to Fight, has stressed that the Ukrainian would not be hurried into his next move. “Throughout his entire professional career both Oleksandr Usyk and our whole team have proven that we respect all potential opponents as well as the rules that govern professional boxing,” Lapin told Ready to Fight.

“Over the past year and a half Usyk has accomplished a historic achievement by becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion twice. That demanded tremendous physical and mental effort, and great sacrifice.

“The champion has earned the chance to let his body recover from the effects of a punishing training regime and from injuries that are often invisible to the outside world. And, ultimately, simply to rest and spend time with his family.

“Most importantly: he has earned the right to choose his own future and to take the time he needs to make that decision. So, guys, don’t push the horses.”

Besides, this horse is currently lame due to a back injury, one as inconvenient as it is painful. That injury was reported to the WBO when Usyk sought an extension for his next mandatory defence, but many have since questioned its veracity because of a video that recently circulated on social media. In this video Usyk was seen dancing – one of his favourite pastimes – at some sort of music concert or party and appeared to be moving unimpeded throughout. “I haven't actually seen the medical evidence but you would think that a serious injury would prevent that sort of activity,” said Parker’s promoter, David Higgins, to Sky Sports. “As far as I’m concerned, things are exactly as they were. In boxing, nothing surprises me.”

Usyk’s last WBO mandatory was Daniel Dubois, whom he boxed, for the first time, in August 2023. According to WBO rules, a champion must defend their belt within 12 months unless an exception is justified and, under Rule 11, Section 2, an extension is only granted for “good cause” – a legitimate injury, a unification, or a legacy-level fight. 

The WBO had been prepared to grant Usyk his extension request – until, that is, the now-infamous dancing video started to spread online. Now they have officially requested a detailed explanation of the champion’s alleged injury and asked for a medical reassessment to take place by Monday at the latest.

WBO Championship Committee Chairman Luis Batista Salas stated in a letter to Usyk’s attorney John Hornewer: “These actions put the Championship Committee in a difficult position, as the arguments made in the petition and the medical documentation submitted are called into question by these new developments. The recordings appear to contradict the medical recommendations.”

Parker, as is his custom, seems a lot less bothered by it all. “Usyk is a good dancer,” he said. “It was good to see him enjoying himself and having fun. If the WBO is investigating it, that’s what they’ve decided to do.”

Meanwhile, Parker will just continue to focus on himself and the things he can control. The show, for him, must go on – always. 

Elliot Worsell is a boxing writer whose byline first appeared in Boxing News magazine at the age of 17. He has, in the 20 years since, written for various publications, worked as press officer for two world heavyweight champions and won four first-place BWAA (Boxing Writers Association of America) awards. In addition to his boxing writing, Worsell has written about mixed martial arts for Fighters Only magazine and UFC.com, as well as worked as a publicist for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has also written two non-fiction books, one of which, “Dog Rounds,” was shortlisted at the British Sports Book Awards in 2018.