Why Joseph Parker Can Come Back Better Than Ever In 2026

Joseph Parker lost to Fabio Wardley in 2025 but before that had been on a great run in boxing and a resurgent one in recent years.

One loss is nothing though, especially lately in the sport. He had some outside the ring minor issues but it remains to be seen if they will really get in the way for him this year.

The fact is Joseph Parker if he wants to can be a force at heavyweight and he’s showed that in recent years when he is focused in his training. He has been a fighter reborn under Andy Lee, his trainer, and Joseph Parker is by no means an old fighter in terms of heavyweights and the modern boxing landscape these days.

Heavyweights out of anyone can fight on for ages and with Manny Pacquiao, a smaller weight fighter, still competing at the highest level of professional boxing at the age of 47, Parker can fight on for many years if he wants.

Parker in recent years has shown more of an ability to punch with power than in previous years and when on form and focused in the ring, switched on, shown that he is still a force in boxing.

Why Joseph Parker Can Come Back Better Than Ever In 2026

Parker should not be too down on himself after last year and he can come back again and the fact remains he has a big fan base not just in New Zealand, but around the world, clearly as we see by the numbers in digital on all platforms.

Like Derek Chisora of the UK and Usyk of Ukraine, and of course Tyson Fury, Parker is also one of the divisions great characters.

But away from all that he’s a fighter. That’s who he is. That’s always who he’ll be. On the inside you see, that’s who he is.

He is a fighter.

He will never be able to turn that off.

And at the end of the day, Parker has been around for many years now in boxing as well. He has accumulated a wealth of fight knowledge and experience at this point.

People forget that he was very young when he won the WBO heavyweight title now some years ago.

That level of actual real success, multi-million dollar actual real success, at such a young age, people forget that it wouldn’t have been easy for him as well with that at such a young age years ago.

Basically becoming an overnight hero in New Zealand.

He has come a long way in his fight game and life since that, he can absolutely come back this year and be a contender in the division. Maybe he’ll want to get the Fabio Wardley rematch going as well, a good fight too.

When all is said and done Joseph Parker is a fighter.

That’s who he is.