Kiwi boxer Joseph Parker is backing Dereck Chisora to beat David Price when the two heavyweights square off at the O2 Arena in London on Sunday (NZ time).
Parker and Chisora had been scheduled to fight this weekend, but the New Zealander was forced to pull out earlier this month due to illness from a suspected spider bite.
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The 27-year-old admitted he was "gutted" not to be facing Chisora, but remains hopeful the pair could reschedule in the near future.
But it all depends on the outcome of this fight, so Parker wants Chisora to come through unscathed.
"David Price, I know he's a great fighter with a lot of power, but I hope he doesn't ruin my chance of getting in there and fighting Chisora," Parker told Sky Sports UK.
"I still want that fight. I want to fight him and shut him up. I know he's got a big mouth on him. You get fighters like him who speak their mind and say whatever they want to say, but he's got a big mouth, and I want to shut him up.
"I'm really interested in this fight. I wish I was the one in London fighting. I reckon if I was in London, I could have put on a great show against Chisora."
If Chisora does win, Parker hinted that a potential fight could take place on the undercard of Andy Ruiz Jr's title fight against Anthony Joshua in December.
"If he gets the early knockout and looks sensational and Matchroom want to put on another big fight in Saudi or another fight on another day, then I think it can happen. But at the moment the cards are quite full, so we'll see how it plays out."
Parker is feeling better now, but the bite meant he couldn't train, and his camp opted to follow doctor's orders and withdraw.
Since getting back on his feet, Parker has been hanging out with boxing royalty in Las Vegas, where his training base is.
A recent photo emerged of Parker, Tyson Fury and Floyd Mayweather hanging out in a club in Vegas.
"I caught up with Fury. He invited us out for dinner. We had a nice dinner, caught up, and then he met up with Floyd and had some photos.
"It's good, he's always one of those fighters who has always made time and always wanted to catch up. I'm grateful to have his friendship, it's a good friendship."
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