Joseph Parker

Negotiations for a fight between former world champion Parker and the top-10 ranked Fa stalled once again early last month.

But the all-Kiwi contest was again being lined up.

Parker's British promoter Eddie Hearn revealed on Thursday details were being finalised for a big fight in New Zealand in October.

Responding to Hearn's comments, Parker's manager David Higgins confirmed discussions were advancing and revealed Fa was still their preferred opponent.

The former WBO heavyweight world boxing champion hasn't fought since late February as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

His British promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed they're working on organising a fight for Parker at home.

"It would be our first ever show in New Zealand, in that region even," Hearn told iFL TV.

"Great fight that we're planning for him out there. It looks like October for that fight, just finalising all the details.

"It would be a major coup for us to get that over the line."

Parker's boxing revival is on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the former world heavyweight champion has showed he has plenty of strings to his bow during lockdown.

The New Zealander attempted to lift the gloom by starring in uplifting videos while in quarantine, first showing off his moves in a recreation of the 'Dancing Prime Minister' scene from the film Love Actually.

Parker then strutted his stuff while lip-syncing to The Foundations' smash hit Build Me up Buttercup, also demonstrating his prowess with a guitar and on the piano.

Parker continued his revival by stopping Shawndell Winters in February to extend his winning streak to three fights.

The New Zealander has no idea when his next bout will be due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the former WBO champion revealed quarantine life has further fuelled his determination to rise to the top.

He told Stats Perform: "Time off like this is really important. It's not something that we choose to happen, but I guess everyone can use this time to reflect on our lives and think about what makes us happy and what we want to do.

Parker landed 68 power punches to Winter's 28, saying in the post-fight interview that he was looking to be a bit more patient in the fight.

He also said he was open to fighting anyone in the top 10, including Dereck Chisora, who he was meant to fight last year.

The 28-year-old also said he was open to a rematch with Englishman Dillian Whyte, who he lost to in 2018.

Round 5 - That's it! Parker wins by knockout after a beautiful combination. A big right hand did the damage initially, but there were a few more punches that landed as Winters wemt down.

Parker, 28, hasn't fought since last June, where he earned a TKO victory over Alex Leapai in Providence.

Standing in the Kiwi's way is 39-year-old Winters, boasting a record of 13 wins and two defeats from his 15 professional fights.

Parker wrote a tribute on Instagram for Peau, who died peacefully in his sleep in Auckland Hospital this morning aged 54 after undergoing brain surgery recently on a tumour.

“E ua maliliu Toa” Rest In Peace Jimmy “Thunder” Peau, a Samoan boxing Icon and a pioneer of the sport in our Samoan community,” Parker wrote.

Parker fights in Frisco, on the outskirts of Dallas, in a Matchroom Boxing promotion at the end of February.

Attempts to get a late opponent have reportedly resulted in Winters agreeing terms from a shortlist that also included the respectable Polish fighter Mariusz Wach.

It seems Wach, coming off a decent performance in losing to Britain's Dillian Whyte, priced himself out of the bout and the 39-year-old Winters will step in.

Experienced slugger Mariusz Wach has gone on Polish television saying he's agreed to fight Parker and is just waiting for the contract.

Wach has fought 41 times in his career, and holds a 35-6 record. Some of his notable opponents include Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin and Dillian Whyte, whom he fought in December. 

"We are waiting for specifics, documents that will have to be signed," Wach told Telewizja Polska Sport in Polish. 

"I will sign, send back and you will probably see me at the end of February with Parker.

The former WBO heavyweight champion has fought just once in 2019, after a spider bite forced him out of a scheduled bout last month, and attempts to get back in the ring have fallen on deaf ears.

As the work continues, the frustration grows for Parker.

"They were supposed to give us a decision last week," he says. "Now they've said they'll give us a decision this week.