Parker threatens to pull out of Chisora fight

Former heavyweight world titleholder Joseph Parker may not fight Dereck Chisora after all.

Just days after his manager announced they would accept an offer to face Chisora in October, David Higgins is threatening to pull his boxer from the fight unless Chisora agrees to undergo WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) drug testing. However it is currently unclear whether Parker vs Chisora will headline its own show, or be shared with Regis Prograis vs Josh Taylor in the World Boxing Super Series final. The odds on the fight are not yet posted as the fight is now in limbo. Sugar House promotional code once the fight is announced for the latest odds.".

The contest is being targeted for October 26 at London's O2 Arena, as the chief support bout to the World Boxing Super Series 140-pound tournament final between Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis.

"We've received a formal offer to fight Dereck Chisora on October 26. We have accepted on the condition that two clauses are inserted into the contract," Higgins told The New Zealand Herald. "One is that Joseph's fight will be no earlier than the penultimate fight on the card, and the other is the drug testing protocols."

If Chisora does not agree to undergo WADA-sanctioned drug testing, Higgins says his fighter will refuse to fight him.

"Under the circumstances of those conditions not being met, unfortunately, we will have to pull out of the fight," Higgins said.

Parker (26-2, 20 KO’s), a 27-year-old New Zealand native who trains in Las Vegas, won the vacant WBO heavyweight title with a controversial majority decision over now-unified champ Andy Ruiz Jr. in December 2016. He made two unconvincing defenses before losing to then-unified titleholder Anthony Joshua on points in March 2018.

Since dropping a unanimous decision to Dillian Whyte last July, Parker has picked up back-to-back knockouts against the likes of Alexander Flores and former title challenger Alex Leapai.

Chisora (31-9, 22 KO's), 35, of the United Kingdom, challenged Hall of Famer Vitali Klitschko for the WBC title in February 2012 but lost a wide unanimous decision. Klitschko won despite suffering a torn ligament in his left shoulder early in the fight, and beat Chisora with one hand.