Controversial world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury believes Joseph Parker has the skills to beat Carlos Takam and move in line for a title bid.
Parker and Takam clash in south Auckland on Saturday night in an IBF eliminator with the winner getting mandatory rights to challenge for the belt currently worn by Britain's Anthony Joshua.
Fury holds two of the world belts - the WBO and WBA versions - after beating long-standing champion Wladimir Klitschko last year. The giant Brit is preparing for a rematch with Klitschko.
He took time out from his troubled training camp in Belgium, where he is battling weight issues and struggling form, to give Parker a plug.
The pair have become good mates via social media and Fury clearly has high regard for Parker, the 24-year-old unbeaten Kiwi who faces his biggest test against Cameroon veteran Takam.
But Fury is backing Parker to win and get into the top mix fighting for belts in an increasingly open division.
"I like what I see with Joseph, he's a really nice guy, I speak to him a lot on the internet, on Twitter, give him advice and that, and he takes it on board," Fury said.
Takam is not a pushover but I think that Parker can just out box him and use his height and his angles and get some much needed experience to move to the next level and that would put him up the tree for the IBF which I don't think there's a mandatory due until next January.
"He will have to get another couple of fights, 10-rounders in, and good fights, while he waits for his opportunity to fight as mandated challenger.
"But he can fight and he's tough and ambitious. I like him, he's my type of fighter, Joseph and I wish him well."
Ironically, Fury could prove a hinderance to Parker's title claims if he can get past Parker and if Fury beats Klitschko.
Parker's mandatory against Joshua would then likely be stalled as British promoters look to set up a super fight between Fury and Joshua in London to unify three of the four belts.
Unification fights take precedence over mandatory fights, though Parker would still be sitting next in line for a tilt at the IBF belt when the dust settled after a "Battle of Britain".
There has also been strong talk that Joshua is keen to take on America's WBC champion Deontay Wilder with an eye to getting that belt which could also delay Parker's title bid.
For now the Kiwi has to put all his energy into beating Takam the durable 35-year-old who has only been knocked out once in a 36-fight career.
The weigh-in is on Friday afternoon in Manukau.