‘A travesty’ – Anthony Joshua sent stern warning over leapfrogging two heavyweights for title fight
Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel should be given a world title shot ahead of Anthony Joshua, according to Carl Frampton.
The former two-weight world champion believes it would be ‘a travesty’ if Parker was overlooked for the opportunity.
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Joshua has been told to wait in line for his next world title shotCredit: GETTY
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Frampton agrees it would be ‘a travesty’ if Joshua leapfrogged ParkerCredit: talkSPORTJoshua has continued to be linked to a potential world title bout on his return to the ring.
AJ has not fought since losing his IBF title tilt against Daniel Dubois back in September.
The 35-year-old was counted out after being knocked down four times in the opening five rounds.
Meanwhile, Parker and Kabayel both hold interim world titles amid a string of impressive recent performances.
READ MORE BOXING NEWSDiscussing the heavyweight title picture, Frampton told talkSPORT: “If anybody jumps ahead of Joseph Parker it’d be very, very unfair.”
The New Zealander is in pole position to take on the winner of Dubois’ undisputed title bout against Oleksandr Usyk.
They are scheduled to meet at Wembley Stadium on July 19, following their first fight two years ago.
Parker is the current WBO interim champion, having held the belt since March 2024.
He has since defended it once, beating Martin Bakole in February to record a sixth consecutive victory and move to 35-3 as a professional.
Asked if it would be a travesty for Parker to miss out, Frampton added: “Yeah, it would be. Parker deserves a shot next definitely.
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Parker currently holds the WBO interim world titleCredit: GETTY
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Frampton also believes it would be ‘unfair’ for Joshua to jump ahead of KabayelCredit: Getty”Kabayel maybe. If Kabayel gets it in front of Parker you’d feel a little bit disappointed for Joe. I still feel he’s more deserving than Kabayel.
“But if AJ gets it in front of either of those two I think it would be unfair but I get it because he’s a huge, huge draw.”
Kabayel himself won the interim WBC title in February with a vicious body shot stoppage of Zhilei Zhang.
The unbeaten German had recovered from an earlier knock down to claim his 18th knockout win.
As for Joshua, he has already been a two-time heavyweight world champion in his career.
His first reign included a unanimous decision victory over Parker in Cardiff back in 2018.
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Promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested a long-awaited bout against Tyson Fury could instead represent AJ’s comeback fight.
However, any potential fight with the Gypsy King would require him to come out of retirement.
Hearn has also revealed he expects Joshua to hang up his gloves by the end of next year.
His loss to Dubois leaves the British fighter’s professional record at 28-4 with 25 wins via knockout.
