Joseph Parker

According to Stuff, the 32-year-old will take on Dave 'The Brown Buttabean' Letele on the undercard of Joseph Parker's bout with Alexander Flores at Horncastle Arena in Christchurch next month.

Event promoter Duco has called a press conference for Tuesday to announce the fight.

Vatuvei has recently returned from the UK, after an injury-plagued stint with Super League club Salford Red Devils.

An Achilles issue picked up in pre-season prevented him making a single appearance for the side and he was granted an early release from his contract in July.

Parker will fight Flores at Christchurch's Horncastle Arena on December 15 in what will be his first fight in New Zealand since May 2017.

The 26-year-old South Aucklander has endured a challenging year, losing his WBO title to Anthony Joshua in April in Cardiff, and then losing in his next bout to fellow British heavyweight Dillian Whyte in July in London.

The back-to-back defeats have seen Parker slip down the rankings, and he will need to claim some emphatic victories by knockout if he wants to contend for a heavyweight belt once more.

The 28-year-old Flores has won 15 of his 17 fights through knockout with his only defeat coming at the hands of former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin in a North American Boxing Association title fight in 2014.

Martin's victory set up a successful tilt at the IBF crown vacated by Tyson Fury, and a subsequent unification date with Anthony Joshua.

Parker will fight Flores at Horncastle Arena on December 15th having lost his past two fights.

Parker's former promoter Dean Lonergan told RadioLIVE last week that fighting Hunt would be the perfect comeback fight for the former WBO heavyweight champion - who has lost his previous two bouts.

The 26-year-old lost to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte respectively

Hunt - who has one fight remaining on his UFC contract - has lost three of his last four fights inside the Octagon, but more importantly has never fought a professional boxing fight in a 19-year combat sports career.

Hearn says the 26-year-old former WBO boxing champion is a calibre fighter, who can go up against the best in the heavyweight division.

"There is a lot of depth now in the heavyweight division," said Hearn.

"Even the guys that are losing are available for big fights, not with AJ.

"But (Joseph) Parker will come back in a big fight, (Alexander) Povetkin will come back in a big fight."

Joshua defeated Russian boxer Povetkin via a seventh round TKO yesterday at Wembley Stadium, to retain his WBA, IBF and WBO titles.

Home favourite Whyte dropped his opponent twice but had to climb off the canvas himself in the 12th round, forcing him to hold on for the final bell to secure a unanimous points decision in a pulsating main event at the O2 in London on Saturday.

However, while all three judges were in agreement over the winner, scores of 113-112, 115-110 and 114-111 demonstrated the close nature of the bout.

Parker told Whyte to expect "less movement" and "more punches" in their bout at the O2 Arena, which could see the winner land a world title fight.

Brixton's Whyte dismissed the claim, warning the former WBO champion that "if he comes to fight like he says, he gets knocked out".

"Let's see what he brings," the 30-year-old said.

"I've been in the game long enough to know talk and action are two different things," Whyte, who knocked out Australia's Lucas Browne in his most recent outing, said.

Parker is on the comeback trail following the New Zealander's first professional loss to Anthony Joshua in March, while Whyte is also trying to return to the top of boxing following his loss to Joshua three years ago.

Parker has one more win than Whyte in their professional careers (25 to 24) but the Brit told Sky Sport UK he'll prove who's best.

"He feels he's faster than me, he thinks he's a better boxer than me so hopefully he comes and fights me to try and show that.

Parker will face Whyte in London this Sunday in his first fight since his loss to Anthony Joshua in March.

He told Sky Sport UK Whyte is one of the toughest competitors in the heavyweight division.

"I want to make a statement, I want to be dominant in this fight.

"In order to be champion again I have to fight these great challenges and also to cement my place at the top. It's important to fight good, to fight smart but look great as well," Parker said.

It will be Parker's first fight since he lost his unification bout to Anthony Joshua in April.

Parker lost his WBO title in that fight but could face Joshua again in a rematch if he beats Whyte.

Whyte's only loss in his 24-fight career also came at the hands of Anthony Joshua in 2015.

Parker's manager David Higgins is hoping Parker will get to fight in Britain again.

"This is the epicentre of heavyweight boxing in the world. Obviously we came close against Anthony Joshua (but) didn't quite get the win," he said.