Very bad news for former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (36-4-0, 24 KOs), as it has emerged that he tested positive for cocaine in the doping test carried out on the day of his fight against Fabio Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs), according to The Sun. The 33-year-old New Zealand fighter was tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency on October 25 after an thrilling fight against Wardley, which ended in a 11th round TKO.
Parker’s team can’t believe it, as “this has been the first camp where Joe has his whole family with him”, they told The Sun. The boxer spent several weeks between Ireland and London with his wife and six children. Now the famous heavyweight could receive a two-year suspension, even though cocaine is considered a recreational drug and not a performance-enhancing substance.
Parker’s team will now have the opportunity for the B sample to be analysed in any case. The New Zealander’s performance in that fight was remarkable and he was ahead on the scorecards (98-92 and 96-94 in favour and a draw) when the fight ended. Referee Howard Foster was criticised for what many considered a premature stoppage. The Aucklander had come off the back of high-profile victories over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole, and Wardley was the last hurdle before a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk.
Parker won the WBO world title in 2016 after a majority decision victory over Andy Ruiz Jr. He successfully defended the belt twice – against Razvan Cojanu and Hughie Fury – before losing to Anthony Joshua in 2018
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