WBO world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker has had his first title defence confirmed, according to a member of his camp.
Taylor Barry, the son of Kevin and one of Joseph Parker's trainers tweeted today: "I can confirm that we are going after this unification next, Joseph Parker v Deontay Wilder April in Las Vegas.
Despite Barry tweeting the news, Duco Events CEO David Higgins has confirmed that the fight is not yet official in an interview with Newshub.
Higgins confirmed that they had been in talks with Wilder's camp, but plenty is still to be done before anything is officially confirmed.
"We are looking at Hughie Fury and Deontay Wilder and we are discussing which one will be best based on risk versus reward," said Higgins.
"I spoke to Deontay's promoter [Al Haymon] today and he will call me back next week with some numbers around staging it in New Zealand and the United States and we are doing the same with Fury.
"We are in negotiations with Hughie Fury around location and date, plus we have just started negotiations with Wilder."
ESPN is reporting that Parker's first world title defence will be in New Zealand on April 1 or April 8. They have also reported that Bob Arum has been speaking to Frank Warren (Fury's promoter) and Arum has said "we're close to a deal".
With two potential fights on the cards in the coming months, Duco Events will be taking the fight that benefits Parker the most.
"Beating Wilder would make Parker a big name in the United States, and beating Fury would make Parker a big name in the United Kingdom," said Higgins.
"We are taking our time to work out what the best option is.
"Sometimes talking the risk is worth it if the reward is substantial."
Before a potential bout with Joseph Parker, Wilder, will have to get past Polish heavyweight Andrzej Wawrzyk on February 25 in Alabama. A loss could throw a spanner in the works for a unification title fight between Wilder and Parker.
In an interview last month with Newshub, Wilder's manager Jay Deas said his team would happily face Parker in the new year if everything fell into place.
"It depends how February 25 goes against Andrezj Wawrzyk," said Deas.
"If Deontay does not get any wear and tear or injuries everything goes, we would rather fight in the middle of the year, and if a Parker fight in the middle of the year is available we would love that opportunity."
Newshub.
