‘I’ll fight anyone to be the best’: Parker open to facing ‘great friend’ Fury

Joseph Parker says his friendship with Tyson Fury would not prevent a potential fight between them next year.

Joseph Parker says he’s got no qualms with potentially facing his “great friend” Tyson Fury if the two win their upcoming fights.

Fury is set to rematch Oleksandr Usyk on Dec. 21 for Usyk’s WBC, WBA, and WBO titles, while Parker will face Daniel Dubois for Dubois’ IBF title on Feb. 22.

“If Tyson beats Usyk — like, I want to fight in the best in the world, and if he beats Usyk, he’s the best in the world,” Parker said. “He’s a great friend of mine, but I’ll fight anyone and everyone to be the best, because I know I’m the best.”

Parker (35-3, 23 KO) is a former WBO titleholder, winning that belt in 2016 before losing it in 2018 after a pair of successful defenses, but is seemingly at a new career peak at the moment. The 32-year-old from New Zealand has won five in a row following a loss to Joe Joyce in 2022, and his 2023-24 wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang have the Kiwi more well-known than ever, with the most big-time momentum he’s ever had.

Dubois, of course, will not be an easy out, and past Usyk, you could argue that right at this moment, they’re the heavyweights with the most momentum in the division. Dubois, 27, bounced back from losses to Joyce and Usyk to make a case for himself as the 2024 Fighter of the Year with stoppage wins over Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua.

Fury (34-1-1, 24 KO) is looking to avenge his defeat to Usyk (22-0, 14 KO), and if he does, there’s every reason to believe we may see a rubber match between the two of them in 2025 ahead of any other potential fight.

But Parker does sound very serious that friendships and the like would not deter him from going after the biggest, best fights out there, and the same is likely true of Fury on the other side of the coin. Both, again, have plenty to worry about before that’s even the real conversation, but it’s nice to hear.