The New Zealand boxer has excelled in recent months with triumphs against both Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang and his promoter David Higgins says he is targeting a world title shot in the autumn.

Higgins told Sky Sports: "He's had a stunning year, five fights in the calendar year and five wins, took on two of the most feared heavyweights in boxing in Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang and overcame both of them emphatically.

"It's probably a best-ever year for Joseph Parker and he's earned back the respect of the boxing public and has real currency again at the peak of his powers.

"Behind the scenes there's talks of Joseph going on a card later in the year, but we don't want to be presumptuous.

"Boxers say they will fight anyone and in Joseph's case that is true he will fight anybody. He'd love to be on a Saudi card in September or October and to whoever he is asked, he will fight."

Parker recently challenged Anthony Joshua to a rematch in a humorous social media video that went viral but Higgins explained that his former world champion charge is deadly serious about avenging his 2018 defeat to the Brit.

The promoter said: "It should happen but I don't think Joshua or the powers that be will line it up next.

"It would be great if they did and Joseph would take the fight but if I was a betting man I'm not sure that would be next.

"I think Joseph would beat Joshua now. All boxing and trash talk aside, I think he would beat Joshua now.

"I think they [Joshua's promotional team Matchroom] would back Joshua but they would acknowledge there is a risk, of course."