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Zach Parker eyes future UK clash with Canelo ahead of John Ryder showdown

Parker faces Ryder for WBO interim crown on November 26

Zach Parker has welcomed a future clash with undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez Photo Credit: Queensberry Promotions/Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
Zach Parker has welcomed a future clash with undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez Photo Credit: Queensberry Promotions/Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

Zach Parker believes Canelo Alvarez will have to face him or vacate his WBO super middleweight title, should he overcome John Ryder on November 26.

Parker and Ryder meet for the WBO interim super middleweight crown at the O2 Arena, with the winner in line to face Canelo.

Canelo, who bounced back from defeat to Dmitry Bivol with a win over Gennady Golovkin in their trilogy bout in September, could look to face Bivol again if he defends his WBA light heavyweight title against Gilberto Ramirez in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Parker, the number one contender with the WBO, feels if the Mexican great does decide to rematch Bivol, then he should relinquish his WBO belt, but the Brit has also challenged him to a UK showdown.

“I feel like he’s going to go up and try and avenge that loss with Bivol,” Parker told proboxing-fans.com

“If he does that, this fight is pretty much a world title fight, because if if he goes up he’ll have to vacate and one of us two will get made straight to world champion.

“Obviously it’s going to be me.

“That’s what will happen [he’ll vacate] if he goes up [to light heavyweight] again.

“He’s already been up once, you can’t keep letting us wait around for ages.

“I’ve been in the number one spot for two or three years now, it’s been a long time.

Parker faces Ryder at the O2 Arena on November 26 Photo Credit: Queensberry Promotions
Parker faces Ryder at the O2 Arena on November 26 Photo Credit: Queensberry Promotions

“To be fair, I heard the other day in one of the interviews, he might want to do a world tour.

“If he wanted to do that, what better place to do it then get one in Manchester out the way or Wembley or something.”

The Derby man is unbeaten in his 22 professional fights and will step into the ring for the first time in a year after halting Marcus Morrison in four rounds last November, having seen a clash with former middleweight world champion, Demetrius Andrade fall by the wayside, due to the American picking up a shoulder injury.

Former world title challenger, Ryder is coming off a career-best win against former world champion, Daniel Jacobs and on paper presents the toughest test of the 28-year-old’s career.

Ryder beat Jacobs in February Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Ryder beat Jacobs in February Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

However, Parker insists his compatriot, who was beaten controversially by Callum Smith in his sole world title attempt in 2019, falls short at the highest level.

“He’s been in there with some good lads.

“But, we’ve seen him at the top level he always comes up short doesn’t he.

“But I just feel like my style causes trouble for anyone.

“It don’t matter if he’s got more experience. I’ve been in this game since I was four-years-old, so I don’t really look into it that much.”

Watch the full interview with Zach Parker below: