Joseph Parker has told Tyson Fury to continue boxing and become undisputed champion despite confirming the champion is serious about retirement.
Fury defeated Dillian Whyte after landing a well-timed uppercut to record a sixth-round stoppage at Wembley Stadium. He announced his intention to retire in the ring after the win, despite the looming prospect of an undisputed title bout against the winner of Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
Parker admitted he spoke to Fury about retirement before his clash with Whyte and he insisted that retirement was his plan irrespective of any future fights. “I think we have to take him seriously,” Parker said. “We had a talk about it again yesterday. I said ‘are you going to retire after the fight yesterday? And he goes ‘hand on my heart I am going to retire’.
“But no I don’t think he should retire, I think he should carry on because he is at the top of his game and no-one can beat him. There are still other bouts out there including the bout so he can become undisputed champion and have all the belts at once. It looks like a mismatch if he faces Joshua on form of late, but AJ still has big things he can do with boxing.”
Parker worked with Fury throughout his camp for his fight with Whyte and has also sparred the ‘Gypsy King’ on several occasions to prepare him for the test. The 33-year-old remains undefeated and is arguably in the prime years of his career despite claiming he will no longer compete in the ring.
