3<\/p>\n Parker beat Chisora narrowly in their first fight via split decisionCredit: Mark Robinson\/Matchroom<\/p>\n In their first meeting, the Kiwi was knocked down in the opening 10 seconds before rallying in the mid to late rounds to edge the contest via split decision.<\/p>\n The fight was so close, competitive and enthralling that a rematch was booked seven months later.<\/p>\n This time, Parker dominated proceedings, badly hurting Chisora on multiple occasions and knocking him down in the fourth, seventh and eighth to earn a unanimous decision victory.<\/p>\n Both bouts were fought at a furious pace on the inside, where Parker was made to feel Chisora’s full force.<\/p>\n It is therefore no surprise that when posed with the question of who his strongest opponent was, Parker picked out the rugged Brit.<\/p>\n “I would say Chisora was the strongest,” Parker told talkSPORT.com.<\/p>\n “He is always on your chest and doesn’t leave you alone.<\/p>\n “All those little clubbing shots to the body and the head don’t look like much, but they all hurt and they all add up…<\/p>\n “He is a nightmare to deal with in the ring and outside of the ring.”<\/p>\n What have Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora achieved since their duels?<\/p>\n Parker and Chisora have gone on to have successful runs since their barnburning bouts.<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Parker was able to widen the gap in the rematch as he dropped Chisora three times for the unanimous decisionCredit: Mark Robinson\/Matchroom<\/p>\n Chisora rebounded from a defeat to Tyson Fury<\/a> in December 2022 to best Gerald Washington, Joe Joyce<\/a> and Otto Wallin<\/a>.<\/p>\n The victories have earned him a mandatory spot with the IBF, which he intends to further cement with a statement-making win on December 13 in Manchester<\/a>.<\/p>\n Parker is also on the verge of a world title shot after scooping the WBO interim title.<\/p>\n A six-fight winning streak, including notable triumphs over Deontay Wilder<\/a>, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole, has seen him establish himself as the next challenger to Oleksandr Usyk<\/a>‘s undisputed heavyweight thrown.<\/p>\n The WBO ordered Usyk to defend his world titles against Parker earlier this year, but the Ukrainian was granted a medical extension<\/a> due to a lingering back injury.<\/p>\n Keen not to sit around and wait for ‘The Cat’, Parker opted to risk his position<\/a> by taking a fight with Fabio Wardley on October 25.<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Parker was the WBO heavyweight champion until he was dethroned by Joshua in 2018<\/p>\n Explaining his decision, Parker added: “As a fighter, you can train as much as you like, but all you want to do is fight.<\/p>\n “If I could fight three or four times a year, that would be amazing, but fighters nowadays are fighting once or twice a year.<\/p>\n “I just want to stay active. I’ve got two or three good years left in me, so I want to fight as many times as I can and fight the best in the world.<\/p>\n “I know it is a risk, but there is always a risk in every fight that you take.<\/p>\n “In order to get to the top, you have to fight whoever is in front of you, and right now that is\u00a0Fabio Wardley.<\/a>“<\/p>\n![\"Parker](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MR3A6344-1.jpg\")
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