Joseph Parker has not fought since he failed a drug test eight months ago.
The former world champion could face a two-year ban after a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test taken on the day of his 11th-round stoppage loss to Fabio Wardley on October 25 returned traces of cocaine.
He was up on the cards in that fight, having handled Wardley’s pressure early on, but was eventually caught and stopped, though many thought the referee intervened rather too early, given Parker did not hit the canvas.
He denied all wrongdoing once the test result was made public and has been fighting to clear his name ever since, but remains indefinitely suspended until the case is resolved.
Speaking to Playbook Boxing, Parker’s manager, Spencer Brown, gave an update.
“There is a lot of mitigating circumstances. Joe is 100% not guilty, but there is mitigating circumstances. The people around him at the time. There was contamination. I realise that the sample has come back, but it couldn’t have helped him in any way, shape or form it could only have hindered him.
“We’re trying to get this out of the way, we’re trying desperately, there are solicitors involved, we need to get him back in the ring in the next two or three months. We need to get this finished. We’re still waiting for the process to go through.
“We put all our evidence through to show there were mitigating circumstances. We have had witness statements, we have done everything, all we are waiting for is a yes, OK when accept it, there’s your ban.”
Parker is now 34 years old, Prior to his loss against Wardley, he was on a fine run that had seen him beat Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole. If he does return, he will be looking to capitalise on the scattering of the heavyweight titles and fight himself back into contention.
