Joseph Parker set to fight Solomon Haumono - Report

news.com.au

22 May, 2016 08:40 PM2 mins to read

Solomon Haumona is set to fight Joseph Parker to challenge for a shot at the IBF world title. Photo / Getty Images

Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker is set to fight Solomon Haumono in what would be the biggest transtasman bout in history.

Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph reports that Haumono and Parker have been negotiating the multimillion fight through their respective camps for months, and are now close to finalising a deal with an announcement potentially coming within days.

The fight would likely take place in New Zealand, and the winner would get an IBF title bout against Britain's world champion Anthony Joshua.

Parker, 24, defeated tough French-Cameroonian Carlos Takam in Manukau on Saturday via unanimous decision to become the mandatory challenger for Joshua.

The undefeated Parker (19-0, 16KO) is New Zealand's best heavyweight since David Tua, while Haumono (24-2-2, 21KO) is one of Australia's best-known athletes having previously been a star NRL player.

Haumono, 40, has been publicly challenging Parker for some time and it appears his wish has been granted.

But he will be a heavy underdog against Parker, who many believe is the future of the heavyweight division alongside Joshua.

There have been some major all-Australian and all-Kiwi fights - notably Anthony Mundine vs Danny Green and Tua vs Shane Cameron - that have generated incredible hype, but the Haumono vs Parker battle would undoubtedly be the biggest Aussie vs Kiwi fight in history, particularly given that a world title shot is on the line.

In his most recent bout, Haumono earned an unimpressive sixth-round stoppage win over Argentina's Manuel Alberto Pucheta, though the victory maintained his daunting 75 per cent knockout ratio.

Tellingly, Haumono fought Pucheta on a card promoted by Duco Events, who manage Parker.

If Haumono could upset Parker, he would become the first man in history to fight for the world heavyweight title having already played a different professional sport at international level.