Hearn Wants Parker To Get UK Exposure To Build Joshua Bout

British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn believes Joseph Parker's challenge to Anthony Joshua is going to be a "big fight" that may be happening sooner rather than later.

New Zealand heavyweight Parker became the mandatory challenger to Joshua's IBF world title by beating Carlos Takam in Auckland on Saturday.

Hearn has been responsible for promoting some of boxing's biggest fights in recent years in the UK and across the Atlantic in the USA.

Hearn believes Parker deserves the exposure to the UK's huge boxing audience, and he acknowledged the tough 12-round victory he earned over Cameroonian fighter Takam, which was witnessed by British audiences live on television.

Parker's next fight will be against Solomon Haumono in Christchurch on July 21, while Joshua's maiden defence of his IBF title will be on June 26 against American fighter Dominic Breazeale.

"He's a good young heavyweight, people watched the fight and said 'I'm not sure how good he is'," Hearn told Sky Sports.

"He just beat Carlos Takam who is a good fighter, he's an avoided fighter and for someone who's not a novice, but a relatively inexperienced fighter, that was a good solid win and I think the Parker/Joshua fight will end up being a big fight.  

"That will get called in November 20th I think and after then we will have the option to either fight Joseph Parker or fight a unification fight.

"But in the meantime, yeah we are definitely going to fight Parker at sometime so why not get him on the card and get him some more exposure and profile to the UK fans. They've had a little taste and I think it was an enjoyable fight."

Parker's next step on the world stage would be to leave New Zealand and set foot on British shores to take on a strong pool of heavyweights that are fighting in the UK.

As well as Joshua, there are contenders like Dillian Whyte, Dereck Chisora, David Haye, David Price and possibly the reigning world champion Tyson Fury too.

40-year-old Solomon Haumono will provide "a different kind of challenge" as Joseph Parker prepares for his world heavyweight bout with Anthony Joshua.