Hughie Fury must travel to New Zealand for WBO title fight against Joseph Parker in April

By Richard Damerell

Image: Joseph Parker has received home advantage for his first defence of WBO title against Hughie Fury

Hughie Fury must travel to New Zealand to challenge WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, the WBO have confirmed.

The unbeaten 22-year-old, who is the WBO's mandatory challenger, had hoped his first world title fight would be staged in Britain, but Parker's promoters Duco Events won the purse bid with an offer of $3,000,011.

Parker will now have home advantage for his first defence of the WBO title, which he claimed with a points victory over Andy Ruiz Jr in December.

Image: Fury is the WBO's mandatory challenger after racking up 20 victories

WBO president Francisco Varcarcel made the announcement on social media, tweeting: "@DucoEvents wins purse bid @joeboxerparker vs @hughiefury with $3,000,011,bout to take place on April 1st in Auckland, NZ, 60/40 purse split."

Fury has fought abroad before on a number of occasions, picking up victories in Canada, America, and Monaco during his 20-fight unbeaten career.

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Parker's title triumph was staged at the Vector Arena in Auckland and the 25-year-old champion could be heading back to the same venue.

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