It is just over a week away until Dillian Whyte takes on Joseph Parker at the O2 Arena in London in a heavyweight clash that promises to whet the appetite.

The former currently holds the WBC Silver heavyweight and maintained the British heavyweight title from 2016 to 2017.

As for Parker, he held the WBO heavyweight title from 2016 but failed to retain it when he came face-to-face with Anthony Joshua earlier this year.

Both fighters enter next week’s encounter with only one defeat to their name, making it very hard to predict who will come out on top.

However, one man who has pinned down his favourite to claim the victory is Sky Sports pundit Carl Froch.

The 41-year-old, who held multiple world championships at super-middleweight level and claimed the WBC, IBF and WBA titles during his 35-fight career, has had his say on how next week’s fight may pan out and thinks Parker's extra big fight experience could just make the difference.

“When we saw Joseph Parker against Anthony Joshua, he got shut-out. Joshua was too tall, too rangy, a little bit too big and strong,” he wrote in a column for Sky Sports.

“The referee didn't help matters either. I have to mention the referee, because the referee kept pulling them apart, kept breaking it, which favoured AJ. I'm not saying AJ wouldn't have got the job done, because he would have done. He's a better boxer, a better fighter.

“In this fight, I just think that Dillian Whyte is a bit smaller, he's not as rangy, he likes to throw hooks and land big shots. Joseph Parker is going to be more comfortable with somebody standing in front of him.”

Froch suggests Parker will start the fight as the ‘slight favourite’ but hopes Whyte can ‘rise to the occasion’ and prove why he should be classed among the elite.

“Whyte is going to have to get in close, try and hit him with a heavy shot, try and hurt him. Parker will quite happily sit behind his jab. We've seen him go 12 rounds a couple of times,” he added.


“He looked good against Carlos Takam, who shared the ring with AJ, and we saw how tough and hard he was. Joseph Parker is experienced at that world level, and there's an argument that Dillian Whyte's not experienced at world level.

“I'm making Parker a slight favourite in this fight against Whyte, but I'm hoping the British Whyte can turn out a performance, rise to the occasion, and show people 'you know what, I do belong at world level.'

“He can be explosive and he punches hard. He's taking it more serious now and he's maturing as a fighter and as a person. He's much cooler and calmer, which is better because it means he's in control of his emotions, and he can go in the ring and concentrate on his fighting.

“I'm hoping he does the business, but from what I've seen previously of both fighters, I've got to be honest and say I'm making Parker a slight favourite.”