Joseph Parker will defend the WBO Heavyweight title against Hughie Fury on September 23rd in Manchester, England, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
“I’m very much looking forward to this fight,” Parker said. “It’s been a long time coming but the contract is signed thanks to my promoter David Higgins and I am ready to get going. In the contract is what we want and David has worked very hard to get the contract sorted; and now that it’s ready and the date is confirmed, we’re looking forward to going over to the U.K. and making a statement and putting on a great show.”
“The idea of going to the U.K. is something I am looking forward to and, no, I don’t hold any grudges,” Parker said, referring to Fury’s withdrawal from the fight in May that was supposed to be in New Zealand. “I just go in there, respect my opponent and do what I have to do. That’s go in there and win the fight and defend my title and keep it here [in New Zealand]. The crowd against me? I will use it as energy and motivation to put on a great show and fight hard.
“I know there will be a lot of supporters for [Fury] but I know I [will] put on a great show, and hopefully get him out of there.”
“I’ve never had a close fight. I’ve won every round of every single fight,” Fury said. “I’m going to let my fists do the talking and I’m going to take his belt home with me.”
“[Fury] needs to get this warm-up fight out of the way before he faces Parker later in the year,”Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said. “I am confident that the WBO heavyweight belt will once again be in possession of the Fury family come the end of the year.”
