Tyson Fury might have to fight Joseph Parker, a man he considers a brother, if he wants to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. This scenario could unfold despite both fighters' previous statements about never facing each other in the ring.
The heavyweight division is heating up with several big fights on the horizon. Fury is set to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for the unified heavyweight championship on December 21. This bout follows their first encounter in May, where Usyk won by split decision and became the undisputed champion.
Since then, Usyk vacated the IBF belt, which was then awarded to Daniel Dubois. Dubois solidified his position as IBF champion by defeating Anthony Joshua. Now, Dubois is expected to make a voluntary defense of his title, likely against Joseph Parker on February 22 next year.
If Fury beats Usyk and Parker manages to defeat Dubois, the two friends might find themselves in a tricky situation. They'd have to consider fighting each other to claim the undisputed title, a scenario neither of them wants.
In an interview with Jai McAllister, Fury made his stance clear:
"Definitely not, no [I wouldn't fight Parker]. I'd rather give him the belt than fight him for it. We're too close for that, fighting. There are plenty of heavyweights out there. I don't want to get beat up, sorry."
Parker shares similar sentiments. The New Zealander, who's been training with Fury and even living in his house, told TalkSPORT in 2022:
"We have a great relationship, he treats me like a younger brother, his whole family looks after me. I've based myself here in Morecambe now. I've stayed in his house, I'm using his gym. I think I'll never fight him. I'll let him do his thing and fight everyone else. I'll try to go another path and do my best to win the other belts if I can."
The situation brings to mind the Klitschko brothers, who held all four major titles between them from 2011 to 2013. They couldn't crown one undisputed champion due to their family relationship.
Parker, a former WBO Champion, has recently boosted his stock with wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. He's now trained by Andy Lee and based in Morecambe, further strengthening his bond with Fury.
The heavyweight division's landscape will become clearer after Fury's fight with Usyk in December and Parker's potential clash with Dubois in February. For now, fans can only speculate about the possibility of these two friends having to face each other in the ring.
