Joseph Parker would risk being taken down by Oleksandr Usyk and would face Moses Itauma in December after Fabio Wardley fight | Boxing News

Joseph Parker is reportedly willing to risk a mandatory shot on Oleksandr Usyk to box Moses Itauma immediately after his upcoming fight with Fabio Wardley.

Parker suggested he was ready to fight Itauma in December if he comes out unscathed against Wardley later this month.

Itauma is scheduled to box in December, but is waiting for his next opponent to be confirmed.

Parker fights Wardley at London’s O2 Arena, so boxing two months later would be an incredibly quick turnaround for a modern heavyweight.

It would also be a huge gamble. If Parker beats Wardley, undisputed world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will have to fight him next to retain the WBO title. Boxing Itauma in the meantime would risk this position.

Nevertheless the New Zealander threw his hat into the ring to face Itauma after Wardley.

“I don’t want to stay out of the ring for too long. This once a year fight just isn’t enough. I want to fight as often as possible and if everything goes well with Wardley on October 25, put me back in the ring at the end of the year,” Parker insisted.

“I would take any fight. I know Moses is a great talent. He can only fight whoever is in front of him and he has been able to take care of his business every time.

“He’s young, he’s powerful, he’s fast and that would be another fight I would love to take. I’ll take any fight. I’m not even in this boxing game to take my time, pick this fight or pick that fight, I’ll fight anyone.”

Itauma’s devastating knockout victory over Dillian Whyte in August sent a warning to the heavyweight division. But Parker remains unfazed.

Parker said: “Look, he’s a big threat. He’s a very talented young fighter who just dominates whoever’s in front of him, so of course everyone’s going to ask for a lot of money, but if it can happen, it will happen.”