Joseph Parker hopes to fight before the end of the year after having his drugs ban lifted, saying: “I’m looking for a big fight. I’ve been waiting to punch someone in the face.”
The New Zealand boxer's frustration at a ban which has been in force since late last year is probably justifiable, although his feelings will also include relief.
He was shocked to fail a voluntary test due to the apparent discovery of traces of cocaine after his defeat to Fabio Wardley in the United Kingdom late last year, a finding which put the 34-year-old’s career on hold.
Parker told 1News: “Imagine getting told you’d failed a drugs test and getting told it’s cocaine. Like, it’s a shock… and how are you going to navigate through this whole ordeal?
“It was tough at the beginning, very tough. I’m very fortunate to have a very supportive wife and family. When I got told the news I was in tears. ‘How did this happen? My career, it’s all over’. My wife said to me ‘relax, you did nothing wrong’. She was with me the whole time in camp so she knows exactly what happened.
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Joseph Parker denied taking performance enhancing drugs after the “adverse result”. (Source: 1News)
“But to get the suspension lifted and have the chance to put this behind me now, it’s a great feeling. I’m ready to go again now.”
Parker, the former WBO world heavyweight champion, trained with Tyson Fury before his friend’s recent comeback fight and wants the world to know he is a free agent and back in the heavyweight mix.
He is not, however, free to comment on the circumstances of the failed test, or its resolution, with manager David Higgins saying: “He’s agreed not to talk about it until the details have been finalised. The ban has been lifted.”
Parker did say, however, that the details should be resolved soon.
Higgins added: “It’s good to be back in business and to start planning what the next move is for Joseph. He’s in demand. He’s a big name around the world now, he’s only 34 but he’s a veteran of boxing with so many big names on his resume.
“Trying to make fights shouldn’t be too difficult because he’s a big name and a pay per view draw. Some of the bigger names probably think he’s beatable so he’s a good match-up for some of the big names.
“We’re now at the point where Joseph is a free agent and available for anyone who makes a sensible offer.”
As Higgins noted, current WBO world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois has avoided Parker in the past.
Parker, involved in the promotion of Saturday's IBF cruiserweight world title eliminator bout between David Nyika and Floyd Masson, added of the ordeal: “It’s taught me a lot about the business we’re in. It is a business and you have to look after yourself and the people around you.”
When asked about Nyika's potential path to the title in New Zealand, a journey which Parker completed 10 years ago when he beat Andy Ruiz Jr in Auckland for the WBO world heavyweight title, he said: "It's massive."
Watch the Nyika v Masson fight on Saturday on TVNZ+ with a one-off Event Pass. The first fight of the night, featuring former All Black Liam Messam, will be available free-to-view on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+.
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