Parker sets sights on Joshua unification bout

Reuters

New Zealand's Joseph Parker said he had the skills to exploit Anthony Joshua's "weaknesses" after beating Hughie Fury by a majority points decision to defend his WBO world heavyweight title.

Parker condemned Fury, cousin of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, to a first professional defeat in a scrappy fight at Manchester Arena on Saturday, which the judges scored 118-110, 118-110, 114-114.

The 25-year-old has now set his sights on a unification bout with British WBA and IBF champion Joshua, who fights Bulgaria's Kubrat Pulev in Cardiff, Wales, in October.

"I feel I have better movement," Parker said after extending his unbeaten record to 24 fights, with 18 wins by knockout.

"He's got good power and is a good champion, but if I fight him, I can bring out the weaknesses."

Parker's promoter, David Higgins, said Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn had already made contact about a fight next year.

"He wants to unify and so do we," said Higgins, who is eager for Parker to fight again this year.

Fury's promoter, Mick Hennessy, was furious about the decision and compared his fighter's display to Muhammad Ali.

He also pledged to appeal against the decision.

"It was an absolute masterclass, shades of Ali. It was beautiful boxing in the heavyweight division," Hennessy told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Parker wasn't even in the fight. Any punches he was throwing were either missing or hitting elbows or hitting gloves. It was very rare he got through with a clean shot. Hughie absolutely skated that fight.

"That is probably one of, if not the worst, decisions I've ever seen in my life. It was disgusting, absolutely disgusting."

Fury, 23, echoed Hennessy's words.

"I thought I'd done enough," said Fury..

"There are no words. At the end of the day, they are ruining people's dreams.

"I don't know what the judge was seeing — he kept missing. Devastating. Judges like that shouldn't be there."

Hughie was attempting to match the achievement of his cousin, Tyson, who beat Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015 to win the WBA, WBO and IBF belts. Tyson was in Hughie's corner at Manchester Arena and leapt into the ring after the fight was over, mobbing his cousin in an attempt to convince the judges.