Parker-Chisora talks for heavyweight showdown collapse

Dereck Chisora and Joseph Parker's talks for a heavyweight showdown have collapsed.

The fight would have likely taken place on April 20 at London's O2 Arena.

David Higgins, Parker's promoter, is looking to find another fight for his former heavyweight titlist after brewing frustration in regards to the way negotiations were handled.

“We signaled last week that we were at the 11th hour and we weren't going to run a short camp,” David Higgins told New Zealand Herald via Boxing Scene on Thursday. “Suddenly they're all over me now.

“I got a text from Eddie Hearn (Chisora’s promoter) this morning, and David Haye (Chisora's former nemesis-turned-manager) has reached out. I like them both, but I think their approach to the process is cowardly.”

Parker (25-2, 19 KO's), a former heavyweight world titleholder, knocked out Alexander Flores (17-2-1, 15 KO's) in the third round in December to get back in the winners' column after suffering back-to-back defeats in 2018.

Parker lost his WBO belt in March when he dropped a unanimous decision to three-belt heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua, and was also outpointed by Dillian Whyte in July. The bout with Whyte was also made on one-month notice, and Higgins was not particularly wild about putting his fighter through another short camp.

“[Chisora's] approach was cowardly in that he watched his compatriot Dillian Whyte basically force Joe into a seven-week camp with home advantage and officials and instead of trying to run a fair fight with a fair lead time,” Higgins believes. “'Del Boy' has been in camp for three weeks.

“They're basically trying to steal a few weeks of advantage – and home advantage. There is a saying that beggars can't be choosers, but I'm both so this fight won't be happening on those terms."

Higgins added that if Hearn wants to make the fight happen, they will have to start at square one.

“If they want the fight we're going to have to potentially talk about new dates and new locations. For the last (two weeks), we've been saying we need to come to terms, get a contract, and go into camp otherwise we won't be able to do this fight. Maybe they thought we were desperate, but no, we're calling their bluff. We're out.

“We were fairly remunerated for the risk (for the Whyte fight). The problem here is they're asking us to take a big risk for a low return.”

Parker is expected to return to the ring at an undetermined date in his native New Zealand. The 27-year-old has fought in his home country in 20 of his 27 professional fights.