Joseph Parker

Hearn has been struggling to tie down Bulgaria's Kubrat Pulev as his preferred opponent and appears likely to enforce the mandatory challenge owned by Parker for the November 26 fight.

Hearn is set to announce Joshua's opponent on Monday night (NZ time) but gave a sneak preview to his current thinking in an interview with iFLTV.

I think the favourite to fight Anthony Joshua is Joseph Parker," Hearn said.

The New Zealand heavyweight (20-0-KO17) is the mandatory challenger to Anthony Joshua's IBF world title but will first take on Dimitrenko (38-2-KO24) in Manukau City.

Russia's Dimitrenko courted controversy in the lead-up to the clash by claiming Parker was fortunate to be awarded victory the last time he fought in the city - a unanimous decision over the highly-rated Carlos Takam in May.

Speaking to radionz.co.nz, Parker responded: "This is my home, this is my home country and he's come here and disrespected me.

The big Brit has started a 10-week training camp ahead of his November 26 IBF title defence in Manchester.

Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn is set to reveal the opponent on September 26.

Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev and Canada's Bermane Stiverne are the favoured options though Parker, because of his mandatory challenger's position, is also in the frame.

Hearn has indicated he would prefer to have Parker fight David Price on the undercard as a way of introducing the Kiwi to the British market and building hype towards a showdown with Joshua in London in March.

Fa and Parker have history, splitting their four amateur fights two each, and momentum is slowly building behind the prospect of the pair eventually squaring off in the pro ranks.

Born and raised in South Auckland, Fa attended two Commonwealth Games with Tonga before taking three years out of the sport to have a family.

Dimitrenko, the 2.01m veteran who identifies with Russia and not Ukraine due to the conflict between the two Eastern European countries, made his first appearance in New Zealand on Wednesday ahead of the October 1 fight in Manukau. 

Selected as the second-to-last training run on the road to a world title shot for Parker, Dimitrenko is out to belie his status.  

RNZ reports Dimitrenko will have a nine-centimetre height advantage, and an 18 centimetre reach advantage when they step into the ring in Manukau on October 1st.

Parker is the current IBF mandatory challenger, with a world title fight against Anthony Joshua to be held before the end of the year.

Solomon Haumono portrayed himself as 'Rocky' while Joseph Parker played 'Apollo Creed' in a promotional clip before their heavyweight clash, and the cinematic connection may soon get another chapter.

The identity of Parker's next opponent is due to be revealed by promoter Duco Events on Tuesday.

RNZ reports Parker will fight Haumono in Christchurch tonight, but what's really on the boxing world's mind is his fight for the IBF World heavyweight title against British boxer, Anthony Joshua, later this year.

Parker steps in the ring against former NRL star Solomon Haumono in Christchurch tonight, knowing a defeat will derail his shot at a world title.

In May, the 24-year-old Aucklander beat Cameroonian Carlos Takam by unanimous decision, a result that took his record to 19-0 (with 16KOs) and made him the mandatory challenger to Englishman Anthony Joshua's IBF belt.

Speaking to the Crowd Goes Wild Breakfast on Radio Sport, Parker said his British counterpart is the champion for a reason and he can't wait to finally meet him in the ring.

"He's just like me. He works hard, he's put in the work and he's got a great team behind him," Parker said.