By Liam Napier

Carlos Takam prefers to do his talking in the ring but his physique alone speaks volumes of the step up in class that awaits Joseph Parker.

Takam cut an imposing presence as he posed for the media in Auckland on Wednesday.

The Cameroon-born Frenchman is expected to carry a slight weight advantage, possibly as much as four kilograms (110 to 106), into the May 21 heavyweight showdown in Manukau.

No-one Parker has fought in his 18-0 run has turned up in this kind of condition.

Takam struggles with English, but his best line came when asked how to pronounce his last name. He simply replied "T...KO".

It's a legitimate claim. The 35-year-old boasts 25 knockouts in his 36-fight pro career that features two losses and one draw. The fact he's ranked one spot above Parker by both the WBC and IBF also proves his credentials.

While he battled with the language barrier, Takam said enough to make his intentions clear.

With a guaranteed shot at English superstar and IBF world champion Anthony Joshua on the line, this is Takam's swing at the big time just as much as it is Parker's.

Takam confirmed he is in the best physical shape of his career after training twice a day during a two-month training camp in France and he brushed aside concerns about Parker's four centimetre height, reach and home crowd advantage.

"I don't care about that. They're going to see what I can do," he said. "Joseph Parker is not too tall; I saw him yesterday.

"Every fight for me is a bigger fight but, yes, this is the biggest fight of my career. He's going to do his best to be a challenge for me because I'm the best. I come here to win. He is a good boxer, yes, but I'm the best."

Takam was reluctant to reveal his fight plan but he is expected to try to slip Parker's strong jab and attempt to brawl on the inside. He hopes Parker takes the fight to him.

"I cannot speak about that here, now, today. I leave it to surprise. I like a boxer when he comes to me. I'm fine with that."

Asked if he would knock Parker out, Takam confidently proclaimed: "You are going to see."

Having beaten American Tony Thompson and lost the fight of 2014 with Russia's Alexander Povetkin, Takam is accustomed to the big stage and appears relaxed about confronting Parker's speed and power. 

Takam's promoter, Christian Cherchi, summed up why he believes his fighter will progress to meet Joshua.

"Parker a very good prospect and this will be his true test to see whether he will be a contender or still a prospect," Cherchi said.

"Parker has never fought someone like Carlos yet. Carlos is already proven. He's fought on HBO in Canada. He fought Thompson in Paris and Povetkin. He's already been tested on a higher level.

"The IBF against Joshua is the main draw at the moment. Everybody wants a piece of Joshua now. They're not targeting Tyson Fury because Joshua is the most popular fighter in Great Britain."

Takam landed some heavy blows against Povetkin but ultimately ran out of steam and suffered a 10th round KO. He won his last three fights since then but, despite his experience, will be the underdog away from home against Parker.

"The condition they propose to us was we move the fight here but we wanted to do the fight in France because fighting abroad there are some risks," Cherchi said. "But Carlos was willing to take the risks.

"Everybody expects this fight with Parker being the fastest guy and Carlos trying to go inside but we will see."