Boxing: Joseph Parker weighs in at lightest since 2018 to face Faiga Opelu in Melbourne

Kiwi Joseph Parker has tipped the scales at his lightest weight since 2018 for Wednesday's bout against Australia's Faiga Opelu at Melbourne.

Parker, 31, has weighed in at 108.8kg - nearly 4kg lighter than he was for his last fight, when he defeated Jack Massey by unanimous decision in January.

Last time Parker was as light, he suffered his first career defeat to Anthony Joshua at Cardiff to surrender his WBO heavyweight title. He still weighs in nearly 12kg heavier than his opponent, with Opelu tipping the scales at 97.4kg.

"In my 10 years of boxing, this has been one of my best preparations ever, even before winning the world title," Parker said. "This fight is going to be very different and I feel sorry for Faiga, because he's the one in front of me.

"He's going to get the full force."

Parker's record sits at 31 wins and three defeats, with 21 of those victories coming by knockout.

Meanwhile, Opelu's record reads 15 wins and three defeats, with a further two draws. Eleven of his victories have come by knockout.