With the disappointing cancellation of next weekend’s WBO heavyweight title clash between Joseph Parker and Hughie Fury in New Zealand, Joseph Parker is in need of a new opponent. Everyone from Tony Bellew to Deontay Wilder to even Tyson Fury have been offering their services on Twitter, but of course it will be a minor opponent because those types of fights don’t happen last minute.

Hughie Fury pulled out reportedly due to a back injury, but the whole manner in which the announcement came out was strange. It was the WBO that announced the cancellation, not either team. The Parker camp has insinuated there is nothing wrong with Fury by claiming that he never wanted to come to New Zealand for the fight to begin with. Only the Fury camp knows for sure at this point.

Either way, Parker has says he still plans to fight and needs a replacement. Leading candidate is rumored to be Romanian non-contender Raznan Coveju (16-2, 9 KOs) out of convenience. He has been in Parker’s camp this whole time so he is there, presumably willing, and obviously not considered a threat to randomly upset Parker. Duco Events will announce soon after doing their due diligence on finding the replacement opponent that strikes the best balance between saving the event and not being an unprepared for risk to their cash cow in Joseph Parker.