JOSEPH PARKER defeated Junior Fa on points to reignite his hopes of returning to the heavyweight world title scene.
After 12 rounds, the judges controversially awarded the Kiwi star the unanimous decision, despite commentators believing the contest being much closer.
The 6ft 4ins star made an epic entrance in front of a packed Auckland crowd, channeling his inner Mike Tyson to perform the legend’s cameo in hit movie Hangover, as the locals lapped it up.
The former WBO champion, 28, lost his title to Anthony Joshua in March 2018.
Now he is plotting his rise back up into championship contention after dispatching Fa in Auckland this morning.
He looks to have set-up a rescheduled clash against Chisora after their original 2019 bout was cancelled when Parker suffered a spider bite.
And then he hopes to face the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce later in 2021, who are already in talks about a WBO interim title fight.
Parker has only lost two of his 30 career fights, with both of these setbacks coming on British soil courtesy of AJ and Dillian Whyte.
However, he is relishing the prospect of potentially heading back to England this summer to face Chisora once crowds are allowed back.
Parker said this week: “I love the UK. I love the media, the respect, so welcoming to our team. We’ve gained a lot of friends and supporters there.
“In a perfect world, I’d love to take care of business on Saturday then come to the UK and take care of business, then not far off that, fight for the world title.”
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