Tony Bellew, a former world champion who now works as a boxing pundit, thinks Joseph Parker should get a shot at a heavyweight world title. Bellew's got some strong feelings about this, and he's not keeping quiet.
World title shots are what fighters dream of, but they're not easy to come by. There's always a bunch of stuff that gets in the way - politics, promotional issues, and rematches can all make it tough.
Bellew knows what it's like to fight for a world title. Back in 2016, he got his chance at the home of Everton FC. He got knocked down early but came back to win by KO against Ilunga Makabu. It was a real fairytale story.
Now, Bellew's using his voice to push for Parker. He replied to a message on X (that's what they're calling Twitter these days) about Parker working hard in the gym, saying:
"Gotta be a world title shot next!! HAS TO BE!!"
Parker's no stranger to world titles. He won the WBO world championship back in 2016 when he beat Andy Ruiz JR. He held onto it until 2018 when Anthony Joshua took it off him on points.
These days, Parker's one of the form men in the heavyweight division. He's beaten some big names recently. He outpointed Deontay Wilder, who's known for his fearsome punching power. He also got the better of Zhilei Zhang, a huge Chinese heavyweight star, on the scorecards.
Parker might get his chance soon. Word is, he's the preferred opponent for Daniel Dubois in an IBF world title fight. Dubois is looking to make a voluntary defence after beating Anthony Joshua in August.
So, Bellew's got a point. Parker's done the work, he's got the experience, and he might just get that title shot he's after. We'll have to wait and see if the boxing world agrees with Bellew's call.
