David Haye Exclusive: Parker can edge a tough battle with Whyte
Betfair Ambassador David Haye returns with his views on this weekend's action, including the exciting heavyweight battle between Dillian Whyte and Joseph Parker...
"For me, Joseph Parker has experienced better opposition. He's been WBO heavyweight champion of the world, defended that title four times and then jumped in the ring against Anthony Joshua."
Close points victory or a late stoppage for Parker
Dillian Whyte v Joseph Parker
Saturday July 28, Live on Sky Sports Box office
This is the heavyweight division highlight. Two young fighters who are both willing to put it on the line and both have taken big opportunities in the past.
For me, Joseph Parker has experienced better opposition. He's been WBO heavyweight champion of the world, defended that title four times and then jumped in against Anthony Joshua - who is considered number one in the world - had no fear, gave it a good go and lost on points.
Both fighters have fought Joshua, who holds most of the heavyweight title belts, and they both gave a great account of themselves. Parker lost on points and Dillian Whyte rocked AJ, but was unfortunately knocked out a couple of rounds later. He rallied back with a good fight against Chisora, and his last outing against Lucas Browne where he proved he has that one-punch KO power.
If I look at the resumés of both fighters, I have to sway towards Parker. It'll be a fantastic fight but he is the younger fighter with fewer miles on the clock.
It won't be an early KO, I think if there's going to be a knockout it will be late when both of them will be very tired. I think it will be a close points victory or a late stoppage for Parker but we can't discount the left hook of Whyte which knocked out Browne in his last fight. That would knock anybody out, and if he can land that punch, he's got that early chance of a KO.
It's tough to question Parker's heart. It was a difficult fight against Joshua, against an undefeated opponent on foreign soil. I believe he gave a great account of himself and the referee did him no favours but ultimately, he lost with dignity. He has probably rewatched the fight, reviewed what he could have done better and this is his opportunity to show that.
It's not quick for him to be back in the ring and it's the right thing to do. Fighting Whyte is a great next step. He lost on points to the very best in the world so to fight someone who's also been beaten by Joshua but by KO. I think that's a nice level to go back in and it's a good thing to go back in, not to let the body degenerate, from that camp straight into the next camp.
Whyte will come out fighting. He's a very good boxer, very long arms, very good jabber. I've sparred with him in the past so I know how freakishly long his arms are, longer than they look and he's a very awkward guy to catch clean, so Parker may have issues catching him early doors but once it becomes more of a slugfest that's where Parker will show his best.
Both fighters will come out cagey and they both have very good, educated jabs. If it goes toe-to-toe, I'll go with Parker who has the better close-range punches. However, he'll be very aware of Whyte's long jabs which knocked Browne into tomorrow.
Parker trained at my Hayemaker Gym before his last fight against Joshua and has come back to base himself here again staying at Park Plaza Riverbank. He's a good guy, I've known him for many years and I wish him nothing but luck. I've watched him since he was an amateur, watched him progress into a professional and he ticks all the boxes. Other than a points loss against Joshua - no disgrace there in his first mega-fight where he wasn't cut, busted up or hurt - he's one of the young lions who can come into those mega-fights again.
Thoughts on the undercard...
On Joshua Buatsi v Andrejs Pokumeiko
A cracking little fight, two younger guys who have it all to prove in front of a big crowd at the 02 Arena. Joshua Buatsi is potentially one of our most skilled prospects coming through at the moment and this is his first international title fight. He brings calmness and experience even though he's a six-fight novice, and shouldn't have too many problems. Buatsi has shown that he has amateur pedigree and picks his punches well. He's a potential world champion to me.
On Katie Taylor v Kimberley Connor
Katie is one of the best pound-for-pound female fighter on the planet. Unfortunately, I don't see Kimberly having any success in this one.
On Dereck Chisora v Carlos Takam
This will be a great trade fight. Both boxers are of similar stature, similar style and they both throw big punches from the first bell. I sparred Carlos Takam before fighting Dereck Chisora, and the sparring sessions that we had every other day were far more explosive and gruelling than the fight I had with Chisora.
Takam is better version of Chisora and that's how I saw him. I brought him into camp as I always knew if I could comfortably handle him in camp I could easily handle Chisora in a fight, and that's exactly how it turned out, I knocked him down and and stopped him in the 5th round as predicted.
When they lock horns it's going to be a Takam victory. He's got a better chin, better condition physically, and I just don't believe Chisora, in this late stage of his career, can rally his old form of 2011-2012.
However, if Chisora wins he can look at a big rematch against Dillian Whyte, who is fighting Joseph Parker.
If Chisora loses, I don't think that's the end for him, he can continue fighting for another ten years. He's a got a big personality, nobody really expects him to win any big fights now and he's an underdog for a reason. His last real hurrah was when he challenged for the European title in Monaco last year; it was a pretty poor effort and I think since then people realise that he's not the fighter he once was even though he's quite entertaining, and he's got a decent chin.
People think he can beat world level guys? Well I think it's only him and his teammates who believe that. I can see him coming back down to domestic fights. This is a world level fight, because that's Takam's standard, ranked 10-15th in the world. If Chisora can't beat someone of his ability, he's going to drop back down to British commonwealth level fights.