Joseph Parker

Englishman Fury has been barred from taking part in an official fight before their September 23 bout in Manchester.

WBO rules specify that once a mandatory challenger signs to challenge the champion, they cannot fight before their title shot.

"The WBO, once you're a mandatory, you're not allowed to have a fight before your title shot, otherwise you'll lose your position. He's got some cobwebs to blow off, so he'll be in an exhibition," promoter Frank Warren told Boxing News.

Parker left New Zealand yesterday as he begins preparation to fight against his undefeated heavyweight opponent.

The two were set to clash in Auckland on May 6th before Fury pulled out citing a back injury.

Now fighting away from home, Parker said he's keen to prove his doubters wrong.

"I know there's a lot of doubters out there but I'll use my fists and let my fists do the talking.

"I think I have to go there and knock him (Fury) out to make a statement so that's what I'm going to do," Parker said.

The pair were meant to fight for Parker's World Boxing Organisation crown last month, but Englishman Fury pulled out citing a back injury.

Fury was replaced by Romanian Razvan Cojanu, who Parker beat in Auckland last month.

Now Duco Boss David Higgins told Radio LIVE's Sunday Sport an announcement will be made shortly about Parker and Fury getting in the ring together.

"The World Boxing Organisation has ordered we fight the mandatory challenger, which is Hughie Fury," Higgins said on RadioLive.  "They had given us 30 days to negotiate terms with the Fury camp.

New Zealander Parker will have a keen eye on the fight which has the IBF and WBA belts up for grabs. He's eager to line up a fight with either Klitschko or Joshua and would welcome a title unification bout with his WBO belt.

Parker's mind has been swaying backwards and forwards on who might win at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday (NZ time), in front of a 90,000 crowd.

"Leading up to the fight I was thinking of Joshua and his power but now the more I think about it, I come back to the experience factor of Klitschko," the 25-year-old Parker said on Friday.

Parker, the World Boxing Organisation champion, makes his maiden defence against Fury at Auckland's Vector Arena.

NZ Herald reports Joshua, the International Boxing Federation titleholder, and Klitschko, the former IBF, WBO and World Boxing Association champion, fight for the vacant WBA belt at London's Wembley Stadium.

A total of 90,000 tickets are understood to have been sold for the latter fight alongside an expected million pay-per-view passes, courtesy of an exclusive deal with BSkyB. Budgets suggest the fight will generate more than 50 million in revenue.

Under Bob Arum, Top Rank Boxing has guided the careers of the likes of Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Manny Pacquaiao, Floyd Mayweather and George Foreman.

Matchmaker Bruce Trampler said that Parker is a talent it couldn't pass up.

"We would love to be involved with Joseph Parker," he said.

"There are not too many Joseph Parkers' in the world, and you have to rank him as one of the best young heavyweights in the world."

The pair will fight for the WBO world heavyweight title in Auckland next month.

Ruiz told Fight News that he's as studied the past fights of the 24-year-old Parker, and he's noticed that the New Zealand can't fight well going backwards.

Ruiz wasn't impressed with how the 6'4" Parker fought in his narrow 12 round unanimous decision win over Carlos Takam in May in their fight in the WBO heavyweight eliminator bout.

"In his fight against Carlos Takam he didn't really look that good, he's not good fighting backward," Ruiz said.

The fight has been confirmed for Auckland's Vector Arena on December 10 and the 24-year-old Parker couldn't be happier to see that outcome from a prolonged battle to secure the finances to make it happen.

Parker made that clear when he fronted media via a video link on Wednesday.

"Now that it is locked in and we know it is in New Zealand, that very important because we have everything set up there. It's fantastic," Parker said.

The venue was confirmed at a media conference this morning.

The New Zealand boxer is set to face the Mexican-American Ruiz on 10 December.

Duco chief executive Martin Snedden said it had been a "rocky, volatile" few weeks, as he confirmed the Auckland venue.

But he said it was now time to enjoy the build-up to next month's bout.

"This will capture people in Auckland and New Zealand Joseph has become a figure new Zealanders have really warmed to."

The New Zealand boxer is set to face Mexican-American Andy Ruiz for the WBO title on 10 December.

Parker's promoters Duco have been trying to secure the seven-figure sum required for the fight to happen in Auckland, but had withdrawn their bid for public money to help stage the event citing reaction from the public, media and politicians.