Joseph Parker

The WBO world heavyweight champion has shelved plans for a December fight and will instead use the time to reshape his body for a year he hopes to get in line for a unification fight with either Anthony Joshua or Deontay Wilder.

Parker's trainer Kevin Barry will arrive in Auckland late next week from Las Vegas to oversee a six-week camp where the focus will be on speed.

There had been hopes of New Zealand's boxing star squeezing in another title bout in December following his mandatory defence win in Manchester against Hughie Fury in September.

His promoters at Duco Events had advanced negotiations with Japan's WBO No 9 Kyotaro Fujimoto.

But struggles to get a satisfactory TV deal in place on such a short time frame have made that too difficult.

The Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday that Joshua, who holds the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) crowns is looking to add the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) title held by Parker with a February 3 fight mooted for London.

Joshua, who fights Carlos Takam in Cardiff on Saturday (NZT Sunday), was "likely to target" Parker next, followed by "a blockbuster battle with Deontay Wilder", the World Boxing Council (WBC) champion.

Higgins has engaged Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn in a verbal stoush after heavy criticism of Parker's recent laboured WBO title defence against Hughie Fury in Manchester.

Hearn said Parker's performance was "very poor" and meant he was a hard sell in the UK now with fans viewing the Kiwi as a "mismatch" against WBA and IBF champion Anthony Joshua.

Hearn felt Parker's effort had also devalued a potential clash with Tony Bellew, should Bellew get past David Haye in their juicy London rematch.

 Higgins is eager to make 2018 a major money year for his unbeaten champion.

Joshua's suave promoter Eddie Hearn laid out his ideal plans for 2018, provided his man can come through his defence of the IBF and WBA belts against brutish Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in Cardiff on October 28.

Hearn felt Wilder, the big-hitting WBC champion, held more appeal than Parker, the undefeated WBO champion who is yet to win over British audiences on the back of his recent ugly defence against Hughie Fury in Manchester.

"I think that's going to be the big fight," Hearn told Boxing News of Joshua stepping in the ring with American Wilder.

Parker defended his WBO world heavyweight title against Hughie Fury in Manchester on September 24, getting a controversial majority points decision 114-114, 118-110, 118-110.

The Fury camp has been up in arms about the decision, appealing to the British Boxing Board of Control who handled the fight for the WBO, and pleading for a rematch.

The Parker camp, backed by many pundits, believe their man won comfortably, though admitted the scoring by two judges who handed 10 of the 12 rounds to the Kiwi were a little generous.READ MORE:
 

Bellew, a pumped up cruiserweight, has long been touted as an opponent for WBO world heavyweight champion Parker.

But Bellew has signed for a rematch with Haye that is set down for London in December.

The theory is the winner will go on to fight Parker and if the Kiwi can come through that he will seek a unification bout with Britain's main man, WBA and IBF champion Anthony Joshua.

Rugged Australian heavyweight Lucas Browne has been busy calling out Hughie Fury but could have a chance to get a long-heralded shot at Joseph Parker instead.

The 38-year-old Browne was quick to put some heat on the scene after Parker got past Fury by a majority points decision in an ugly WBO world title defence in Manchester on September 24.

Brown, who is promoted by Manchester legend Ricky Hatton, said Parker was the clear winner.

That's a basic summation of what's in store, with the Kiwi heavyweight's handlers eager to see him fight again in December and get his knockout style back on track.

After a frustrating but successful defence of the WBO world heavyweight title against Fury, they want to put an opponent in front of Parker who suits his style.

That's their prerogative now they are free of the mandatory situation and can make a voluntary defence on their own terms.

Reports of Parker moving to Britain are well wide of the mark after the 25-year-old spoke to local media in London in the buildup to his WBO world heavyweight defence against Hughie Fury.

Parker wanted to clarify the situation and says his aim is to fight more in Britain, but he will not be doing any of his base training there.

"We have a great set-up in Las Vegas. I love being in Vegas, all our camps will be in Vegas, we are just going to spend more time in the UK in terms of fighting," Parker said, quickly adding, "But New Zealand will still be home for me."