Wednesday 31 August 2016 18:03, UK
Joseph Parker's promoter has revealed the mandatory fight with IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua could be staged in March.
Joshua will make the second defence of his belt at the end of November or start of December and Parker was named on a three-man shortlist of opponents, which also includes European champion Kubrat Pulev and former world champion Bermane Stiverne.
But the New Zealand fighter is now set to appear on the undercard, if he wins his next fight with Alexander Dimitrenko on October 1, and talks have been held about a showdown with David Price before a possible March meeting with Joshua.
Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn expects to make an announcement the week after Kell Brook's middleweight clash with Gennady Golovkin on September 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office, and admits a March date is possible.
Parker's promoter Dean Lonergan exclusively told Sky Sports: "What we are looking at is this - we fight Alexander Dimitrenko October 1, then if all goes according to plan, and all parties can make something that works, we would fight on the Anthony Joshua undercard on November 26.
"I do believe it's not going to be in London, it's going to be somewhere else. Then we would fight, assuming that all things go well for Joe, in March, is the indicative date that Eddie has given us.
Our attitude is, so long as the opponents line up, bring it on.
"That's the date for the world title fight, but it's a tough turnaround, I think it's five or six weeks from October 1 and November 26, but you know what, Joseph thrives on activity and in an ideal world we would have a few more weeks to prepare for that fight.
"Right now Joseph is in camp, sparring some giants and it's pretty good way to get prep for this fight, for the next fight, for the one after. Our attitude is, so long as the opponents line up, bring it on."
Hearn believes a potentially explosive fight between Parker and Price would eliminate one of the contenders for the IBF belt, paving the way for the winner to challenge Joshua in 2017.
"At this stage anything is possible," Hearn told Sky Sports. "We have a situation where we could fight Parker next and I believe in an ideal world Parker's team would like to keep developing Joseph before he fights Anthony Joshua - and they'd certainly be wise to.
"From my point of view Joshua v Parker will be a huge fight, but he hasn't quite reached his full potential yet. For us, we either box him in November or December or March - all are possible.
I see it as a tough fight for both and a great fight but the gamble is, if Parker comes over and knocks Price out, it makes the fight with Joshua in March, huge.
"If Joshua fights someone else first, Parker has asked if he could be on the undercard, which I like the idea of because it gives the UK fans the chance to see him in the flesh and really promote the March fight.
"One of the names they put forward was David Price and interestingly Price has been calling out Joshua, but I think he needs a credible win to make their fight sizeable - and a win over Joseph Parker would not only give him that credibility but would also make him mandatory for Joshua.
"I see it as a tough fight for both and a great fight but the gamble is, if Parker comes over and knocks Price out, it makes the fight with Joshua in March huge.
"While Parker against Joshua is a definite possibility for this year, I know I can make it 40, 50 or 100 per cent bigger for 2017 if I put him on in November or December."
