David Price is back in Joseph Parker's sights with the British heavyweight added to a shortlist of candidates for the Kiwi's first defence of his WBO title.
Price was tipped to fight Parker on the undercard to IBF champion Anthony Joshua's last fight before the New Zealander's handlers cleverly moved their man down the WBO route where he beat Mexico's Andy Ruiz for the vacant title.
Duco Events are now looking for their best option for Parker's return to action, which is likely to be in April. They would prefer the fight to be in New Zealand or Samoa.
Price's name comes alongside fellow Brit Hughie Fury and American Jarrell Miller as the leading contenders.
Price is ranked No 6 with the WBO. Fury is No 2 and Miller No 4.
Any hopes of an early unification fight against WBC champion Deontay Wilder are off with the American set to take on Poland's Andrzej Wawrzyk on February 25.
Price told Sky Sports UK that his management had been sounded out by Parker's handlers.
My management contacted me yesterday or the day before and said would I be interested in fighting Joseph Parker," Price told Sky Sports.
"I obviously said of course, I would love to. It's a fight that was supposed to happen this year on the Joshua card, if he was going to fight [Wladimir] Klitschko. I was offered it in the summer by Eddie Hearn and they were under the impression they were fighting me as well.
"I've already agreed to fight them before and now he's world champion, it makes it even more of an attractive proposition to fight him. Now I'm just waiting for news really."
The choice for Parker is to introduce himself to the British audience via Price or Fury or try to expand his American presence with a bout against Miller, a fight that would involve help from Duco's powerful US ally Bob Arum at Top Rank.
Duco believe a night fight in New Zealand or Samoa would transfer well to a late morning TV audience in Britain where the heavyweight scene is booming.
Price is a power-punching 2.03m, 33-year-old and has a 21-3 record. He's noted for knocking out Joshua in sparring.
With the belts held by larger men, he's a good option for Parker as is the 1.98m Fury.
Price said he had continued to take a strong interest in Parker's progress after being in the mix earlier in the year. He wasn't too impressed with Parker's win over Ruiz where the Kiwi overcame a slow start to storm home and snatch a majority points decision.
"There must have been a lot of nervous tension fighting for a world title, because he's looked better in his previous fights," Price told Sky Sports.
"You only have to look at his fight against [Alexander] Dimitrenko to see him deal with a taller man, but I do believe I'm a different proposition.
"I've got plenty to show which hasn't been shown. I've been written off by a hell of a lot of people."
Parker is in a position of power and Price seems to accept that though he believes he has the game to upset the champion.
"You've got to be realistic and they will be using me as a chance to show themselves to the British public, and they obviously see me as somebody they can look good against," Price told Sky Sports.
"But I don't take offence from that. I'll just be made up to have the opportunity to achieve a career-long dream and become a world champion.
"That's just amazing to think that it's a possibility, considering where I was 18 months ago."
Price's name has reappeared because the fight location seems to be a sticking point in negotiations with Fury, cousin of disgraced champion Tyson Fury.
Fury's promoter Frank Warren told Britain's Daily Telegraph: "We want the Parker-Fury fight in the UK, they want the fight in New Zealand, but we are still talking with Parker's team. The UK is the place to have heavyweight fights at the moment. With the WBO making Haye their No 1 challenger it becomes very interesting. He would have no fears about facing the winner of Fury-Parker. And with Tyson Fury hopefully coming back next year, if Haye becomes a world champion, that is another huge fight to be made."
Parker is in Samoa where he has paraded his WBO belt to adoring fans. His fight against Ruiz in Auckland was helped by financial support from the Samoan government.