The undisputed heavyweight champion, 38, could defend his WBO title against Parker, 33, if Lupesoliai La’auliolemalietoa defeats Fabio Wardley, 30, on October 25, and Parker’s promoter has now argued The Cat cannot claim to have faced “the best of the era” until he has shared the ring with JP.
Speaking with Sky Sports, Higgins said: “If he doesn't fight Parker I'd argue that he hasn't faced all of the best of the era.
“For the perfect resume he needs the Parker fight. I'm sure he backs himself to beat anyone on earth, including Parker. Of course he does, any boxer at this level does need to have that mindset. Parker would back himself to beat Usyk. So it would be a wonderful match-up if it happens.”
Higgins is confident Parker will comes to blows with Usyk if he beats Wardley, and that the fight for The Cat’s WBO championship could take place within the first half of 2026.
The promoter continued: “That's the sense I'm getting. I think Usyk's an honourable guy, one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the history of the sport.
“What he's achieved is remarkable, as an amateur, as a cruiserweight and now as a heavyweight.
“Monumental from Usyk and I think he's honourable and I think he would see that Joseph has earned the shot, the good old-fashioned hard way by doing the hard yards.”
Higgins added Parker was a “veteran” in the heavyweight division, and had “a massive resume with a lot of success”.
He said: “He's still relatively young for a heavyweight but he's a veteran. Look at some of the names on his resume.
“From Anthony Joshua to Andy Ruiz to Dillian Whyte. Beat Derek Chisora twice, [fought] Joe Joyce. Beat Zhilei Zhang, [Deontay] Wilder, [Martin] Bakole on the trot.
“So he's got a massive resume with a lot of success and we think he's at the peak of his powers at the moment. We never take any opponent for granted and Wardley has a massive punch. He could knock anyone out. But I think it would have to be a very bad day at the office, or a bad mistake or a bit of luck.
“Otherwise I just think Joseph's got too much class, too much experience, too much speed, is confident on that big stage. So we're optimistic.”
