Comments Thread For: Joseph Parker-Carlos Takam in Talks For IBF Final Eliminator

[Luiz]

I don't see Joshua/Parker fighting till next year though. IBF most likely won't enforce it until Jan or later of 2017... but he's actually though through with what he said in chasing instead of sticking to the WBO as the #1

I think it's good. Gives both sides more time to get a experience boost.

[Cuban Linx]

Finally a step up for Parker. This well tell us a lot about him...

[BodiesInFlight]

That's freakin' sweet. He really needed to start stepping up the comp and this is certainly that.

So many great future match ups to be had if all goes to plan.

[Hougigo]

Jake of All Trades keeping it realistic.

File this under "Pump the Brakes" - Parker vs. Takam NOT even close to a done deal. Both were notified of opp to fight in IBF eliminator...

— Jake Donovan (@JakeNDaBox) February 24, 2016

Screw Kevin Barry if he's acting all willy nilly

[BigZ44]

This would certainly make sense. I like Parker a lot, but I gotta say he didn't look real good against Bergman his last time out and Takam ain't no Jason Bergman. Really dangerous fight for Parker, he hasn't faced anyone close to this level.

[IronDanHamza]

Definitely a good fight.

Ideally, Joshua-Parker would be the money.

Takam's no slouch though.

[Accountoffline]

Needs a better trainer!

Parker would do wonders under John David Jackson! He is a power fighters best friend, hell he even made Algieri add some pop to his pillow fists!. Definitely should move over to him for this fight would be perfect.

[Hougigo]

Definitely a good fight.

Ideally, Joshua-Parker would be the money.

Takam's no slouch though.

If the fight happens, no doubt Parker would have never seen anything like this before

[Tom Cruise]

Yes please. Yup. Ill have some of that.

Parker has a more difficult fight than AJ does lol (if it happens)

[Synch]

Here in NZ, the media have already taken the story and run with it.

Go to NZ Herald website and you should find a link.

New Zealander Joseph Parker is on the brink of challenging for a world heavyweight title following the announcement today that an IBF elimination bout has been ratified, which, if he wins, will pit him against either Britain's Anthony Joshua or American Charles Martin for a shot at glory.

The 24-year-old Parker will fight France-based Cameroon fighter Carlos Takam in May for the right to take on Joshua or Martin. The venue is yet to be decided but Duco Events, Parker's promoters, are pushing hard for it to be in New Zealand and either in Auckland, Christchurch or Invercargill.

It means Parker's Christchurch bout on April 16 has been cancelled. According to IBF regulations, neither Parker nor Takam are permitted to fight before they clash in May.

Olympic gold medallist Joshua and southpaw Martin will fight for the IBF title in London on April 9, a blockbuster which 24-year-old Parker will pay close attention to following this significant news. Martin is the current IBF champion after he beat the injured Vyacheslav Glazkov in New York in January, with Joshua, undefeated over 15 professional fights and making big waves in Britain, his first challenger.

Martin fought for the title after it was vacated by WBA and WBO champion Tyson Fury, who decided instead to honour a rematch clause against Wladimir Klitschko.

The Joshua v Martin fight, which will be held in a sold-out O2 Arena, will be extremely lucrative and a Joshua v Parker fight at the same venue is likely to make the South Aucklander a wealthy man, no matter the result.

Duco Events made the elimination bout announcement today at their Auckland offices, saying the New Jersey-based IBF yesterday advised Parker and Takam, via email that they were the two highest-ranked available contenders in the IBF heavyweight division.

Takam, 35, has been a professional since 2005 and has a 33-2-1 record. His defeats have come against the highly-rated Russian Alexander Povetkin in 2014, and lesser known Frenchman Gregory Tony in 2009.

Takam has fought as a professional outside Europe only once - a draw in Canada in 2014 against Mike Perez.

Takam is ranked No5 by the IBF, No6 by the WBO and No5 by the WBC. Parker is ranked No1 by the WBO (behind champion Fury), No6 by the IBF, No6 by the WBC and No11 by the WBA.

At 1.89m to Parker's 1.94m, Takam will be at a disadvantage in terms of youth and height. Parker will also potentially have home advantage at which will almost definitely be a sold-out venue. The fight, easily the most significant professional heavyweight clash involving a New Zealander since David Tua v Shane Cameron in 2009, is also likely to be an extremely popular pay per view package.

According to Duco, Parker's promoters and those of Takam now have three weeks to agree terms for the May fight. Negotiations will include choice of venue, but Duco are likely to be able to guarantee Takam more money to fight in New Zealand than in Europe.

Under the IBF rules, if Martin retains the title, the mandatory defence has to take place before January 16, 2017. If Joshua wins, he is required to make a mandatory defence of the title by January 9, 2017 (within nine months of beating Martin).