Former Olympic silver medallist Kevin Barry will train up-and-coming Auckland heavyweight Joseph Parker as he prepares to tackle South African boxer Francois Botha in June.

 

Parker leaves for Barry's Las Vegas training base on Sunday to train for his bout against 44-year-old Botha in Auckland on June 13.

 

It will be Botha's first fight since his controversial defeat by Sonny Bill Williams at Brisbane in February.

Allegations of corruption, bribes and a failed drugs test followed Williams' win on points.

 

Botha also complained that the fight was cut from 12 rounds to 10 by the Williams camp as the former All Black began to struggle in the closing stages.

 

Barry, who managed and trained David Tua from the early 1990s, will work with 21-year-old Parker in the two months leading up to the eight-round Botha bout.

 

Botha has won 48 of 61 fights, including 29 by knockout. Some of his more notable losses have been to former world champions Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.