Cocky British boxer Tony Bellew claims he can beat Joseph Parker "in my sleep" and would rather fight the Kiwi than fellow countryman David Haye.
Bellew, a pumped up cruiserweight, has long been touted as an opponent for WBO world heavyweight champion Parker.
But Bellew has signed for a rematch with Haye that is set down for London in December.
The theory is the winner will go on to fight Parker and if the Kiwi can come through that he will seek a unification bout with Britain's main man, WBA and IBF champion Anthony Joshua.
Crowd-pleaser Bellew is desperate to get a world heavyweight title before he retires and sees Parker as the easiest option in terms of size and ability. Bellew is guaranteed a fortune for fighting Haye again, but the risk is he mightn't get the subsequent title shot he craves.
"If I had my way, I'd be signing off on the Joseph Parker fight," Bellew, who is promoted by Eddie Hearn, told The Sun newspaper on Tuesday (NZT).
"I can beat Joseph Parker in my sleep."
Bellew's first win over Haye wasn't convincing as his opponent suffered a torn Achilles tendon and tried unsuccessfully to box on before being TKO'd.
Parker certainly drew attention to his name and his game in Britain with his majority points decision win over Hughie Fury in Manchester on September 24.
But rather than invoking fear in the British market, the laboured win against an elusive Fury has seen Parker continue to be seen as vulnerable.
Dillian Whyte, who was quick to call out Parker moments after the controversial result against Fury in the second defence of his WBO title, has carried on his challenges to the 25-year-old Kiwi.
"Joseph Parker knows I won't be running from him," Whyte told Sky Sports on Tuesday, referring to Fury's strange and ineffective tactics.
"I won't be running from him, staying on the back foot and boxing him.
"I will stand in the middle of the ring with him and trade, and he will get knocked out. He won't have to come looking for me. It won't be a tricky fight and I won't be moving around and jabbing, no.
"I'll stand in the ring with him, have a fight, and I'll put him to sleep. Simple as that."
Hearn and Parker's promoter David Higgins have held discussions as a fight is lined up for Parker in December to keep him busy.
But it's understood the money in a fight with Whyte, whom Hearn also looks after, isn't worth the risk and reward equation at this stage.
It's more likely Higgins will continue to explore the exciting option of having Parker fight in Tokyo before the end of the year where the WBO No 9 Kyotaro Fujimoto could be persuaded to front in a fight that would be certain to generate plenty of interest in a market waiting to be plundered.
Other options for Parker in front of Higgins at the moment include Australian Lucas Browne, Russian Alexander Povetkin and China's Zhilei Zhang while Duco Events' American co-promoter Bob Arum could also provide a United States option as well as help explore the lucrative Asian market.
Photo: REUTERS Caption: Outspoken British boxer Tony Bellew loves giving his opponents and earful.