Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker has revealed the emotional challenge he'll face, as he prepares to leave his family behind to prepare for his rematch with Derek Chisora in December.
This week, Parker will head to Las Vegas to watch this weekend's blockbuster bout between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, before continuing on to England, where he hopes the 'Gypsy King' will assist during his pre-fight camp.
Parker has been confined to training at his South Auckland home, which isn't the ideal environment to get ready for such a pivotal fight.
With the stakes high and the clock ticking in lockdown, Parker has made the difficult decision to head north, and part ways with wife Laine and three young daughters,
"I think it will be emotional when it comes time to leave," Parker tells Newshub. "Trying to focus on preparing well and getting the things that we need, all of these things will play a bigger part.
"If I can't beat Chisora, I have to really look at myself, and assess my boxing and where I stand."
Beyond the daunting prospect of a must-win fight and leaving his family behind is the uncertainty of when he can return to New Zealand, given the scarcity of available managed isolation spots.
"It plays on your mind, the fact that I'm not able to come back," he admits. "I have to make decisions whether I do bring my family up there to be with me for Christmas or New Year."
At least, Parker, 29, will have a few familiar faces on hand in the UK, including Fury, who has become a close friend in recent years.
"Just being around him - his mind, the way he pushes himself, his work ethic - you're able to feed off that," he says.
Parker hopes to pick the brains of arguably the best heavyweight on the planet, while he's in the thick of his training in the sleepy town of Morecombe with trainer Andy Lee.
"He's going to be back in Morecombe and he'll be able to help us out with camp," notes Parker. "But a lot of the camp will come down to Andy.
"It's right there. It's just win, win, win - then world championship."
Join Newshub for live updates of Tyson Fury's heavyweight title fight against Deontay Wilder from 9am Sunday
