Joseph Parker v Andy Ruiz Jr. Photo / Photosport
Joseph Parker says he has no fear of Anthony Joshua and would leap at the chance to get in the ring with him.
After the New Zealander beat Andy Ruiz jnr for the WBO version of the title at Vector Arena, Englishman Joshua easily saw off Eric Molina in retaining his IBF title in Manchester.
His victory set up a mega-fight with Wladimir Klitschko for the IBF and vacant WBA title, but Parker, the mandatory challenger for the IBF belt, said while he was impressed with Joshua's third-round knockout, he wasn't intimidated.
Parker said of 28-year-old Joshua: "He looked great, he looked strong. Klitschko got in the ring later - they've got their fight in April. It's good to see the old dog and the new dog. They're going to have a great fight that everyone wants to see.
"He's cool and calm, a respected guy. But also he's got a lot of power. I liked what I saw. I respect him as a fighter - he was good. [But] no fear, you bring me into a ring with Joshua, I'll back myself any day. I'll fight him any time he wants or I want. But he's a great fighter himself and there's a reason why he's a champion."
After two probing opening rounds, 2012 Olympic super-heavyweight champion Joshua sent his opponent crashing to the canvas for his 18th win inside the distance in as many professional fights.
Molina, 34, clambered unsteadily back to his feet as the count reached eight, but the referee stepped in again to stop the fight after two minutes and two seconds of the round with a technical knockout declared.
The Texan had fought for the world title once before, losing to Deontay Wilder for the WBC belt in 2015.
Moments after the fight, promoter Eddie Hearn announced an April 29 bout against Ukrainian Klitschko at London's Wembley Stadium for the "unified heavyweight championship of the world".
That can be taken as hyperbole, much as Hearn's assertion that it would be the "biggest fight in British boxing history", with Parker the newly-crowned WBO champion while American Wilder is still holding the WBC belt.
Britain's Tyson Fury, who beat Klitschko in November 2015, vacated the WBA and WBO belts in October after having his licence suspended pending investigation of anti-doping and medical issues. He had already been stripped of the IBF belt for not fighting a mandatory challenger.
"We move on to a bigger arena, more people can view it. This is the step up people have wanted. Klitschko wants his belts back, may the best man win," said Joshua after his second defence.
Klitschko, who had been watching ringside at the Manchester Arena, stepped through the ropes for some early eyeballing.
"He is the best man in the division and I believe this excitement speaks for itself. This is what the fans want and this fight must happen," he said.
"He was clear, clean and won by knockout and, as his next opponent, it was good I was here to observe it and make my notes."
The WBA last month officially sanctioned the match between the two fighters for the vacant title.
A toe-to-toe WBC title eliminator on the under card between Britons Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora, won by Whyte on a split-decision.
Khalid 'Kal' Yafai earlier took the WBA super-flyweight world title after outpointing Panama's Luis Concepcion 120-108 119-108 117-110.
Concepcion had already been stripped of the belt after failing to make the weight for the voluntary defence on Friday.
- AAP