Joseph Parker has used the WBO annual convention to push his case for a possible world heavyweight title fight against Ukrainian up-and-comer Aleksandr Usyk.
With Andy Ruiz Jnr due to defend his WBO and IBF crowns against Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning (NZ time), the Kiwi is campaigning hard for another shot at the belt, which lost to Joshua in April 2018.
"Joseph Parker remains the only man to beat your champ Andy Ruiz," manager David Higgins told the WBO championship and ratings committee in Tokyo.
"He's very grateful to the WBO and would like to challenge for the WBO title should [Tyson] Fury move out. He'd like to move up to No.3."
Parker, 27, is currently ranked fourth among WBO heavyweight contenders, behind Usyk, Englishman Tyson Fury and Joshua. Fellow Kiwi Junior Fa is currently ranked seventh.
But Parker would need a couple of results to fall his way to secure a challenge.
Firstly, the winner of Ruiz v Joshua must choose to defend the IBF belt against top contender Kubrat Pulev and vacate the WBO crown.
That would leave Usyk as the heir apparent, but with Fury already committed to a showdown against WBC champion Deontay Wilder, the first challenge for the vacant title would presumably fall to the next-ranked contender - Parker.
"If the belt becomes vacant, he would like to raise his hand and fight Usyk for the vacant title," confirmed Higgins.
Parker has been largely idle during 2019, with just a 10th-round technical knockout of Samoan-Australian Alex Leapai in June to his name.
He was due to face Briton Dereck Chisora in October, but had to withdraw, suffering from a venomous spider bite.
In recent weeks, he has begged for another fight to boost his standing in the heavyweight ranks. New promoter Eddie Hearn could not even find a place for Parker on the Ruiz v Joshua undercard - an event run by his Matchroom Boxing outfit.
"They said the cards were so full and planned well ahead that there was no space or opportunity for us to be on the card," said Parker.
Usyk, 32, became the first cruiserweight to hold all four major world titles at once, before moving up a division in March. He has won his only fight at the heavier class, with American opponents Chazz Witherspoon retiring after the seventh round.
Usyk's fine cruiserweight record qualifies him as the No.1 contender under WBO regulations.
Meanwhile, Fa has been called out by promoter Dino Duva, searching for a way to guide highly touted Chinese Zhilei Zhang back into the WBO rankings.
Zhang fell out of the lists, after visa issues prevented him from fighting. Both he and Fa boast unbeaten records over 21 and 19 bouts respectively.
Join us at 8am Sunday for live updates of the Ruiz v Joshua heavyweight title fight.
