By Logan Savory

If the blueprint is followed properly heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker will be flirting with a top-five world ranking when he fights in Invercargill in July next year.

Fairfax can confirm today the 22-year-old South Aucklander will line up against a yet-to-be-named boxer at the ILT Stadium Southland in July. The proposed date is Saturday, July 11. It is a fight which will draw plenty of national interest and will probably capture international interest as well given where he could be at come July next year, and who the potential opponent is.

The leading New Zealand heavyweight is currently ranked No 10 by the World Boxing Association with a 12-fight-12-win professional record.

Duco Events representative Dean Lonergan, who is Parker's promoter, suggests the fight in Invercargill will be the biggest of the young Kiwi's career.

"Here's the deal; Invercargill at that time will be the biggest fight of his career. Because every time Joseph fights we are trying to step him up, and we are trying to get him up the rankings. At the moment he is No 12 in the WBO, No 10 at the WBA and it's our intention to get him ranked in the other organisations as well. The only way we are going to move up the ranks is to fight quality opponents. So by the time we get to Invercargill the Joseph Parker train will be on fire."

Parker's knockout win over Brazilian Irineu Beato Costa Junior this month was his the best performance to date and had international boxing writers talking up his prospects.

Parker's camp want him to have five or six fights in 2015 with the goal to end up with a top-five ranking by the end of the year.

Given Parker's fight in Invercargill in July is likely to be his third bout next year he will probably be matched against a credible opponent on a world scale. He would have edged closer to that top-five ranking when he fights at Stadium Southland.

That, of course, is dependent on what Parker produces in his two bouts before he gets to Invercargill.

An opponent in Invercargill won't probably be firmed up until 10 weeks out from the fight.

Lonergan said Parker was very keen on the idea of fighting in Invercargill.

The majority of his major fights to date have been in Auckland or overseas although his win over Costa Junior was in Hamilton as part of the Fight for Life card.

"Joseph has been to Invercargill a number of times and every time he has enjoyed it. [Trainer] Kevin Barry in particular was also keen because of the stadium. The design of it will make for an absolute electric atmosphere on the night."