Queenstown is being eyed-up as the surprise location for Joseph Parker's next fight.
Newshub can reveal Parker's team have held a series of meetings with officials in the country's adventure capital this week, hoping a deal can be struck to provide a boost, not only to Parker's career, but the local economy as well.
After a series of lockdown videos at home, the former WBO heavyweight champion made the trip south to check out a slice of heaven.
"We love the place and Joseph had a great time," manager David Higgins says. "I don't want to jump the gun - I mean, we're looking at all options on the table, but it'd be great here, wouldn't it?
Parker's British promoter, Eddie Hearn, has given the all-clear to explore a unique opportunity presented by the COVID-19 crisis.
"Joseph Parker would be fighting in the United States, Europe or the United Kingdom, were it not for this situation," Higgins notes.
Four locations - Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington and Queenstown - are being considered for a late-August or early-September bout against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
Higgins returned from a week of meetings in the south on Sunday and reveals he is keen to help the tourist region bounce back.
"The economy sorely needs it, so I'm hoping the powers-that-be can connect the dots and we can make something happen."
Queenstown mayor Jim Boult is confident of securing the event for a region hit hard by the fallout of coronavirus, but he will ask the government for help.
"We've had some initial discussions about it," Boult tells Newshub. "I think it's a really, really good opportunity.
"It's just the sort of thing we need happening in the district. They do have a budget of $400 million for tourism promotion, so I'm hoping we can find a bit of money somewhere in there to make this happen."
Higgins believes the proposal is a no-brainer and a chance to put Queenstown back on the tourism map.
"A fight in the bubble could be distributed to 100 countries, seen by a billion people globally, but also locally providing jobs, revenue for suppliers and great tourism promotion."
Parker's return to the ring in Queenstown would shape as a win-win for all involved.
