Andy Lee—head coach to both Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker—has emphatically declared that Joseph Parker is the best heavyweight in the world and firmly believes Parker should be the next man to face Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title.
Lee, who cornered Fury during both of his high‑profile losses to Usyk in 2024, praised Parker’s skill and attributes in an interview with The Independent (for The Stomping Ground). He stated: *“Usyk, Usyk, Usyk… Joe beats him. Joe’s faster, agile enough… we’ve got the power. Joe can match him in every way… Give him the chance to prove it, he’s the best heavyweight in the world.”*
That bold statement accompanies Parker’s recent resurgence—six consecutive wins, including stoppages of Martin Bakole, Zhilei Zhang, and Deontay Wilder—and culminating in earning the WBO interim heavyweight title with his knockout of Bakole in Riyadh earlier this year .
Lee’s position is further backed by the formal line drawn by the World Boxing Organization (WBO). In March 2025, the WBO mandated that Usyk must defend his unified title against Parker, giving both sides 30 days to negotiate before a purse bid is opened . Preferential treatment for Parker is also publicly supported by Usyk’s promoter Frank Warren, who stressed that despite the allure of a Fury trilogy fight, “the fight that has been ordered” is Usyk against Parker .
Lee’s comments add both a personal and strategic dimension to this push. As Parker’s coach and Fury’s trusted veteran trainer, he’s uniquely positioned to assess both fighters—and clearly views Parker as fresher, younger, and tactically on par with Usyk, if not superior in some areas. Parker, at 33, is younger than Usyk (38) and, according to Lee, has both speed and power in abundance .
Indeed, Lee summed it up succinctly: *“He’s the best heavyweight in the world. To me, he’s the best heavyweight in the world. Give him the chance to prove it.”*
Why Lee wants Parker vs Usyk next:
- Mandatory status: Parker is WBO mandatory challenger; fight ordered formally .
- Recent momentum: Parker beating high‑calibre opposition, rebuilding his standing as a world‑class fighter .
- Confidence in Parker’s skillset: Lee believes Parker matches Usyk in speed and agility, holds power, and is younger and fresher .
- Promoter alignment: Frank Warren and promoter David Higgins also back Parker as the logical next step .
In summary, Andy Lee—not only a figure intimately connected to both Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker—has made it clear he wants Parker to be the next fighter to face Usyk. He believes Parker has the tools, momentum
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