WELLINGTON, New Zealand – New Zealand's Joseph Parker will defend his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) heavyweight title against Britain's Hughie Fury in Auckland on May 6, his promoters said on Wednesday.
It will be Parker's first defence of the belt he won in December after it was vacated by Tyson Fury, Hughie's cousin.
"Joseph loves fighting at home in front of his Kiwi fans so we really wanted to give him that opportunity against a truly dangerous, gifted young opponent in Hughie Fury," Parker's Duco Events promoter David Higgins said.
Both young fighters are undefeated, with 25-year-old Parker boasting a 22-0 record, 18 by knockout, and Fury, 22, at 20-0, with 10 knockouts.
Most interest in the fight will be on who the winner meets next, with potential unification bouts looming involving Britain's IBF champion Anthony Joshua or American WBC title holder Deontay Wilder.
Higgins confirmed Duco had already been in discussions with representatives for Wilder and Joshua – who fights ex-champ Wladimir Klitschko in London next month – although he insisted Parker's main focus was Hughie Fury.
Further complicating the heavyweight scene, Tyson Fury this week hinted he would return against an unknown opponent on May 13.
Duco said Tyson – who surrendered his belts in October after admitting taking cocaine to combat depression – was expected to join his cousin's entourage in Auckland.
In a promotional video released by Duco to coincide with the Parker fight announcement, Hughie Fury spoke of creating a heavyweight dynasty with his cousin.
"I'll win this title, then Tyson can come back and we can both rule the heavyweight division together," he said.