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Former Joseph Parker opponent believes he can bring another world title back to New Zealand
Alex Leapai is confident Joseph Parker can bring another world title back to New Zealand, once he finally gets his overdue shot at a belt.
The Samoan-born former heavyweight challenger took on Wladimir Klitschko for the unified titles in 2014, when he was stopped in the fifth round, and he faced Parker in his last ever bout in 2019.
Leapai lost that contest via a tenth-round technical knockout to end his career with a record of 32-8-4, and he believes Parker is capable of regaining a world championship, having lost his WBO title to Anthony Joshua in 2018.
Parker is currently on a six-fight winning streak and he is the mandatory challenger with the WBO to Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed champion who has opted for an extended spell on the sidelines rather than face Parker just yet.
Leapai said: "If anybody can do it on this side of the world, it’s Parker."
"He is so determined, he’s doing it for everybody, opening doors for everybody, for us Islanders and New Zealanders on this side of the world, proving that we can do it.
"(David) Tua did it, I did it, he’s just chasing that next goal, that undisputed. Now I just want him to get his shot, how much more does he have to prove?"
Should Parker be too good for Wardley?
Rather than wait around for Usyk, Parker puts his mandatory status on the line when he faces WBA interim heavyweight titleholder Fabio Wardley at the O2 Arena in London this Saturday night, exclusively live on DAZN PPV.
Parker is a red-hot favourite to come out on top against the British brawler and Australian resident Leapai agrees with the oddsmakers on how he thinks this weekend's contest will end.
"This guy (Wardley), I don’t think he should be fighting him to be honest," Leapai explained.
"I don’t see the fight going the distance, I think Parker will take him out in the middle rounds - he needs to be patient."
"They’re keeping Parker busy but when the time comes, he will be ready to fight anybody. The only fight left for Parker is Usyk."
Watch Parker vs. Wardley live only on DAZN
Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley fight this Saturday, October 25, to become the WBO mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk. Watch the fight and undercard live and exclusive on DAZN PPV.
