The co-main event to the October 26 World Boxing Super Series card in London will have a change after former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker went down with an illness.
Matchroom Boxing Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed the news on social media, meaning the fight between Parker and Derek Chisora is off. The fight was going to take place at The O2 on a card that will also feature the WBSS junior welterweight finals.
Due to illness, @joeboxerparker is out of the @DerekWarChisora fight on October 26. We are working on a suitable replacement and will make a further announcement this week #boxing
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) October 1, 2019
Parker’s manager David Higgins has revealed to Stuff that they believe a spider bite is the cause of the illness.
Although Chisora just lost his opponent for October 26, he is still expected to fight on the card with a number of notable heavyweights in the mix to face him. Hearn would go on to tell Sky Sports that the likes of WBA "Regular" champion Manuel Charr, Michael Hunter, Alexander Povetkin, Oscar Rivas, Martin Bakole and Otto Wallin being candidates to face Chisora.
The fight would have been Parker's second since signing a multi-fight promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing earlier this year. Parker once held the WBO heavyweight title, but lost it to Anthony Joshua in a unification bout in 2018. Since then, Parker has won two of his last three fights.
In the WBSS 140-pound finals, WBA champion Regis Prograis will take on IBF champion Josh Taylor where the winner joins WBC and WBO champion Jose Ramirez as unified junior welterweight titleholders.
