Joseph Parker's fight against Carlos Takam has been confirmed.
The New Zealand heavyweight will take on the France-based Cameroon boxer at Manukau's Vodafone Events Centre on May 21.
NZ Herald reports undefeated Parker, 24, who has fought 18 times as a professional, is said to be in top physical shape already after his short holiday in New Zealand in January which followed his knockout victory over Jason Bergman in Samoa.
It will be Parker's biggest test of his career, a bout which will be the most significant involving a New Zealand heavyweight since David Tua's failed title challenge against Lennox Lewis in Las Vegas in 2000.
If he is successful against the 35-year-old Takam, Parker will get a mandatory challenge against either Joshua or Martin by January 16 next year at the latest.