David Higgins, promoter of former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (25-2, 19 KOs), denied Aleksander Krassiuk's words. One of the promoters of Oleksandr Usyk (16-0, 12 KOs) claims that the New Zealander rejected the offer of facing the Ukrainian.
“We received no offer. We did not talk at all about this,” says Higgins. “Parker has been meeting the best in the world in recent months, he has not avoided any challenge. Why would he refuse to fight Usyk? This is nonsense,” Parker's promoter said.
The 26-year-old Parker last boxed in December, when he knocked out Alexander Flores. For Parker it was a return to the ring after defeats from Dillian Whyt and Anthony Joshua this year.
Oleksandr Usyk is due to come back in April and it will probably be his debut in the heavyweight category. It is possible, however, that the Ukrainian will stay in the cruiserweights for one more fight and face Denis Lebedev.
