Parker's reaching the stage where he needs to step up his level of opposition. Just because he's young doesn't mean he has a free pass to be fighting lower tier fighters. That's the same excuse people were touting about Boytsov and look where he is now. If Parker's ready to step up he should do so. There's nothing to be gained by fighting domestic level opponents, and in fact it could turn out to be deleterious to his development. Parker needs guys who can test him, not guys he can knock over in seconds and look great doing so.
There needs to be a gradual progression of course, but a progression nonetheless. Fighters like Christian Hammer and Andrey Fedosov would be good at this stage, as would someone like Charr or Cunningham. Fedosov was no problem for the inexperienced Jennings to take on in his 17th professional fight, and he wasn't half as promising as Parker looks now.
There needs to be a gradual progression of course, but a progression nonetheless. Fighters like Christian Hammer and Andrey Fedosov would be good at this stage, as would someone like Charr or Cunningham. Fedosov was no problem for the inexperienced Jennings to take on in his 17th professional fight, and he wasn't half as promising as Parker looks now.
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