By Edward Chaykovsky
Promoter David Higgins of Duco Events, who handle WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, has no problem with making their first mandatory defense against David Haye.
A few months ago, the World Boxing Organization ordered Parker and Andy Ruiz to fight for the WBO belt that was vacated by Tyson Fury. Earlier this month, that fight happened in Auckland and Parker won a very close twelve round decision.
As part of the WBO's initial order, the winner had to make a mandatory defense against Haye. That plan may change depending on how the WBO will map out the future of the division - because Haye finalized a deal to face WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew, who is moving up in weight, on March 4th at the O2 Arena in London.
According to Higgins, Parker will make a voluntary defense and he hopes to finalize the next fight in the coming weeks. Hughie Fury, David Price and Jarrell Miller are the leading candidates to face Parker.
Parker's co-promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, says the boxer will return to the ring early April, hopefully in the United States.
If Haye defeats Bellew, Higgins would love to get him in the ring with Parker in the summer - and he doesn't care where the fight takes place.
"We will fight David Haye, anywhere, any time, but that's a question for David Haye," Higgins told Sky Sports. "Certainly if Haye has his fight and wins, and Parker wins, then we would be happy to look at Haye next. That's up to David Haye.
"When the WBO ordered Parker-Ruiz, it was agreed then that the next fight would be David Haye. We're puzzled, but he seems to have done a runner and gone a different direction. Maybe he was worried that Joseph would beat him."