Joseph Parker

The pair have parted ways by mutual consent.

Both men agreed to the decision after Parker's points victory over Junior Fa in Auckland on Saturday night.

"Without Kevin I wouldn't be where I am today," Parker said.

"Together we made it to the very top. Kevin was with me every step of the way, guiding my progress inside and outside of the ring. So it is with genuine sadness that I confirm our partnership has come to an end.

The Matchroom boss will be watching on with envy from the UK, with a healthy crowd expected to watch the former amateur rivals square off in the pro ranks at Spark Arena on Saturday.

Hearn, who has continued to run shows in Britain behind closed doors, warned Parker that fighting throughout the pandemic has thrown up several interesting results, and he wouldn’t be completely surprised if the undefeated Fa managed to pull off an upset.

However, if Parker is serious about getting back in the title conversation, he simply has to deliver a knockout.

Parker took a short break from his preparation on Friday, to spar with Luna Rossa co-helmsman Jimmy Spithill, to help promote the fight.

There was no clear winner in that contest, but the 29-year-old is looking for a definitive result when he takes on Fa at Spark Arena.

Parker is the red hot favourite to win the fight and says he’s expecting Fa to hit the canvas at some point.

Originally scheduled for December 12 in Auckland, the fight had been postponed until February 27 after Fa needed surgery for an undisclosed medical issue.

In addition to that, Parker revealed on Tuesday he had undergone surgery on both elbows for the second time earlier this month.

While admitting he was still recovering from the procedures, the former WBO world champion was adamant he had made a good decision.

"They should have taken me on [on the original date] because I was training with injuries," Parker said.

Previously scheduled for December, the bout was postponed after blood tests revealed Fa was suffering from a health issue that required the highly-rated, undefeated prospect to undergo surgery.

February’s fight will again be staged at Auckland’s Spark Arena.

The official event doctor appointed for the Parker v Fa fight night, Dave Renata, confirmed Fa’s recent surgery had been successful.

“Junior’s surgery was a success and he is well and truly on track to be fully fit and in very good health for the rescheduled date on February 27,” Renata said.

While Parker, ranked third in the WBO, is preparing for his rescheduled bout against fellow Kiwi Junior Fa, his manager David Higgins has one eye on a future title clash with Oleksandr Usyk. And their hopes were given a boost last weekend when the No 2-ranked Daniel Dubois suffered a knockout loss to Joe Joyce.

Usyk is the WBO's mandatory challenger and any potential bout against Parker would depend on Joshua defending his WBO, IBF and WBA titles against Kubrat Pulev on December 12, and then vacating the WBO strap.

The original fight was due to be held on December 12th but was postponed last week because of an illness to Fa that will see him undergo surgey tomorrow.

Fa though expects to be back into full time training by early January although he won't reveal what the medical issue is.

A disciplined Parker has kept himself in beast mode during a frustrating seven months since Covid-19 stalled what was a promising start to a year when he had such huge plans to make up for what was a disappointing 2019 as injury hit him.

Now the stars have aligned for a Kiwi superfight against his old amateur rival Junior Fa in Auckland on December 11 and Barry, in hotel lockdown for two weeks since arriving from Las Vegas, knows Parker is physically ready to dominate the man put in front of him.

Negotiations for a fight between former world champion Parker and the top-10 ranked Fa stalled once again early last month.

But the all-Kiwi contest was again being lined up.

Parker's British promoter Eddie Hearn revealed on Thursday details were being finalised for a big fight in New Zealand in October.

Responding to Hearn's comments, Parker's manager David Higgins confirmed discussions were advancing and revealed Fa was still their preferred opponent.

The former WBO heavyweight world boxing champion hasn't fought since late February as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

His British promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed they're working on organising a fight for Parker at home.

"It would be our first ever show in New Zealand, in that region even," Hearn told iFL TV.

"Great fight that we're planning for him out there. It looks like October for that fight, just finalising all the details.

"It would be a major coup for us to get that over the line."