Thursday 6 October 2016 13:07, UK
Joseph Parker has admitted he is "looking at fighting Andy Ruiz" and will start his training camp for a possible WBO heavyweight title shot next week.
The New Zealander is the mandatory challenger for IBF champion Anthony Joshua, but his promoter Dean Lonergan is holding talks about Parker fighting Andy Ruiz Jr for the WBO belt on December 10.
Parker is pursuing a different route to a world title, with Joshua likely to make his next IBF defence against Wladimir Klitschko, and hopes the Ruiz Jr fight will go ahead in his home country.
"We are looking at fighting Andy Ruiz, and we are looking to bring it here to New Zealand," said Parker, who stopped Alexander Dimitrenko in the third round on Saturday.
"The reason why, we'd love to give back to all our supporters and make history. I think if the opportunity does arises where we are fighting for the WBO heavyweight championship, I will take it in a heartbeat and I would love to bring it back here to New Zealand.
"I would love to be here in New Zealand, you know the O2 is the future but if we get the opportunity to bring it back to New Zealand, everyone will love it
"We leave [for Vegas] on Sunday. As soon as we arrive, we put a plan in place where we hit the weights, continue with the fitness like running, boxing we can delay the skills and techniques which we've done as ground work, and just getting the fitness up again."
After sparring with Ruiz Jr two years ago, Parker admits the Mexican is the hardest puncher he has shared the ring with.
I couldn't eat for about three days so I know he's got a lot of power, and he's got a lot of experience.
Parker said: "I remember when I sparred him in 2013, he had a lot of power. I was saying to someone else, he was the only one who punched me, the hardest I've ever been punched before and ripped my mouth.
"I couldn't eat for about three days so I know he's got a lot of power, and he's got a lot of experience. But I know if I have a great training camp, I know I will beat anyone in the world."
The WBO have yet to decide whether they will strip the title from Tyson Fury after he reportedly failed a a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) conducted test and Parker's promoter Dean Lonergan admits they could still target the winner of Joshua-Klitschko in March.
"We're number one in the WBO, we're number one in the IBF, we're mandatory in the IBF," said Lonergan. "The absolute worst outcome we could get, which is a real positive, is that in March we fight the winner of Joshua v Klitschko.
"How good's that going to be for a title? The best outcome we can get, is in December and we get Andy Ruiz down here. I'm in ongoing discussions with Bob Arum, I think we're close."
