Joshua: Joseph Parker wants to plan Anthony Joshua fight and linked with UK bout this year
Wednesday 3 May 2017 17:11, UK
Joseph Parker admits Anthony Joshua is the "man to beat" and says he could box in the UK before the end of the year.
The WBO heavyweight world champion defends his title on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, a week after Joshua's blockbuster success over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium.
Fight Night
Joshua is now the WBA 'super' and IBF holder but has already talked about unifying the division and is expected back in the ring in October or November.
Promoter Eddie Hearn says Parker is "likely" to box in the UK before the end of the year, and the New Zealander made it clear there is one man at the top of his list.
"Joshua thinks he's still got a lot to work on and like myself, I've got a lot to work on as well," Parker told Sky Sports.
"Joshua is the man to beat so I am looking forward to sitting down and planning a fight with him in the future."
The goal was to become champion of the world but now it is ticked off there is still more to achieve. One of them is to unify the belts and I guess there are other fighters out there wanting to unify them as well.
Hearn has been in touch with Duco Events, Parker's promotional company, and has added heavyweight challengers Dillian Whyte and Tony Bellew to a possible UK hit-list.
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Parker makes the first defence of his title in Auckland against Razvan Cojanu, a late replacement for original WBO mandatory challenger, Hughie Fury, who had to withdraw due to a back injury.
Unbeaten Parker is refusing to overlook his Romanian opponent but admits he will have a point to prove to the watching heavyweight world.
"Every fighter has things to work on, weaknesses, strengths and I feel I need to get past this next fight," he said.
"There is a goal, show people I belong at the top and am one of the best heavyweights out there, but I just have to focus on what's in front of me.
"The goal was to become champion of the world but now it is ticked off there is still more to achieve.
"One of them is to unify the belts and I guess there are other fighters out there wanting to unify them as well."
Watch Joseph Parker v Razvan Cojanu, from Auckland, New Zealand, live from 11am, Saturday, Sky Sports 3.
