By Clay Wilson

New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker is sure he is on the right path to a world title after watching American Charles Martin claim the vacant IBF belt in New York on Sunday.

In Samoa preparing for his fight with American southpaw Jason Bergman in Apia on Saturday, the unbeaten Kiwi watched on as Martin claimed the title when Ukranian opponent Vyacheslav Glazkov had to retire in the third round with a knee injury.

Parker, who has powered his way to a 17-0 record, is the seventh-ranked IBF contender and said the win for 23-0 southpaw Martin fully justified the decision for the born and raised South Aucklander's first professional bout against a left-handed fighter this weekend.

Joseph Parker says Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder are bringing excitement back to the heavyweight division.

"Charles Martin, we watched him," Parker said. "He won the IBF championship of the world, but we don't think he is anything special.

"Fighting a southpaw here in Samoa was definitely the right decision. We are heading in the right direction after seeing what they did in the ring."

Deontay Wilder celebrates after defending his WBC heavyweight world title against Artur Szpilka.

Also ranked No 3 with the WBO, No 10 with the WBC and No 12 with the WBA, 24-year-old Parker and his camp have expressed a desire to become the No 1 contender and mandatory challenger in one of those divisions in 2016.

Parker's trainer Kevin Barry said he was very satisfied with where they sat ahead of the fight with 25-11-2 Bergman, the world's No 11-ranked southpaw according to respected boxing website BoxRec.

"Guys don't get to be heavyweight champions of the world without having a lot of skill and a lot of ability," Barry said.

"I like that path we are on at the moment, I like the progress Joseph has shown me. I think we are in a very good, solid position, but we do have work to do."

On the same card that Martin won the IBF title on Sunday, American WBC world champion Deontay Wilder defended his title with a huge ninth round knockout of Poland's Artur Szpilka.

British WBO, IBO and WBA belt holder Tyson Fury stormed the ring and engaged in some verbal sparring with Wilder after the bout, which Parker enjoyed.

"Having these characters in the heavyweight division is definitely going to give us a lot more attention," he said.

"I believe it is going to bring more excitement to the heavyweight division."

Fury beat long-standing world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko of the Ukraine to claim the two belts he has, along with the IBF belt, at the end of November last year.

However, the Englishman was forced to vacate the IBF title when he agreed to a rematch with Klitschko, rather than fighting mandatory contender Glazkov.