Boxing: Joseph Parker confirms June fight with Alex Leapai

Joseph Parker has confirmed - finally - his next fight against Australian Alex Leapai on June 30 in the United States, just 12 days away.

As Newshub projected last week, Leapai has stepped in at short notice, after Team Parker had issues engaging American fighter Eric Molina and his promoter, Don King.

Parker's 28th professional fight will be his first under the management of Matchroom's Eddie Hearn, as part of a four-fight deal signed earlier this month.

Leapai, 39, has only fought twice in four years, but battled then-world champion Wladimir Klitschko in a 2014 heavyweight title fight, before losing by a fifth-round TKO.

Parker told Sky Sports UK he planned to make an impressive statement in his return to the ring.

"Over the past six years of being a professional, this is the first time that I've come into camp at a good weight," said Parker. "I'm enjoying camp more as a result, I think, because we're working more on skills and technique, rather than focusing on losing weight.

"I feel faster, I feel everything is clicking, less injuries and everything is on track.

"A stoppage would be nice, that's the goal going into every fight. I just have to change up the mindset to not only go in there and win, but go in and KO someone, and make a statement."

Parker remains the only heavyweight to defeat current unified champion Andy Ruiz, who stopped Anthony Joshua earlier this month in New York.

The Kiwi slugger is eager to get back in the ring with Ruiz next year, if the Mexican-American retains his newly won belt in a rematch with Joshua later this year.

But Parker is also eyeing a rematch with Dillian Whyte, who is the consensus number-one contender to both Ruiz and WBC champion Deontay Wilder.

Whyte bettered Parker in a fantastic heavyweight fight last July, where Parker almost won in the final round.

"I would love to avenge the losses that I have had against Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.

"I'll fight them tomorrow, but Dillian is trying to fight for the WBC title, so respect to him for that. If the opportunity came along, I would love that fight again."

The fight with Leapai will be Parker's first as a co-feature, underneath a middleweight world title fight between American champion Demetrius Andrade and Polish challenger Maciej Sulecki.

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