By Duncan Johnstone
New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker has been cleared to travel to United States for his fight with American Keith Thompson.
Parker finally had his passport returned by the American consulate late this afternoon after waiting on working visa paperwork for Sunday week's fight had held up his departure.
The unbeaten Parker faces Thompson in Pennsylvania in a fight to be televised across the US. He and trainer Kevin Barry are due to fly out to Los Angeles tonight and transfer through to Las Vegas.
The Kiwi fighter admitted the last few days had been stressful and he was looking forward to putting the finishing touches to his preparations in Vegas where he was comfortable in surroundings that have been the mainstay of his steady rise over the past 18 months.
Parker plans to do some sparring in Vegas on over the weekend before heading to Pennsylvania.
