The Parker Puzzle: Roy Jones Jr. Insists He’s Usyk’s Final Challenge, Overlooking Financial Realities

Roy Jones Jr. says he wants Oleksandr Usyk to fight Joseph Parker next in what would be the final fight of Usyk’s career. Jones Jr. believes that Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) is the only one in the division who has the physical skills to match Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs).

Roy isn’t saying who would finance the Usyk-Parker fight if it were to happen next. Turki Alalshikh reportedly isn’t interested in working on this fight. That means Usyk would have to take a massive pay cut to face Parker. That doesn’t make much sense.

Jones Jr. Wants Usyk-Parker

“I don’t see anyone beating him, but the challenge I want to see is Joseph Parker,” said Roy Jones Jr. to Secondsout about who he wants Oleksandr Usyk to fight for his final clash of his career. “Joseph Parker is a guy that also knows how to fight like a cruiserweight or a heavyweight. That’s how you beat him.”

It would be interesting to know if Jones Jr. would be eager to take a fight with Parker if he were in Usyk’s same shoes, and he knew that it would be a much smaller payday. Somehow, I don’t see Roy Jr. being the kind to throw away gazillions of dollars. His comment about wanting Parker is one based on not knowing what the downside of that move would be. It would be foolish for Oleksandr to sacrifice his final fight to appease fans if it means he’s going to lose out on a bigger purse.

“You can’t go out there and hit him [Usyk] with big shots and power punches. He’s used to that. You’re not going to catch him like that,” said Jones Jr. “You’ve got to fight in his rhythm, his pace, and his speed to be able to beat him. If you don’t match his speed or his rhythm, you’re not going to beat him.”

Many naive fans bought into Parker being great due to his recent wins over two old heavyweights and an obese, out-of-shape opponent.

Parker’s Last three fights:

• Martin Bakole: 310 lbs
• Zhilei Zhang: 42 years old
• Deontay Wilder: 39

Usyk’s Skill vs. Parker’s

When fans see those three names on Parker’s resume, they assume that he beat those guys in their prime. They don’t take the time to look closely at how far gone these guys were, and how Parker’s wins are meaningless. He didn’t fight quality fighters.

“The only person I’ve seen lately that can match his speed and his rhythm, and with the trainer he has now, is Joseph Parker,” said Jones Jr.