By Ben Strang

Joseph Parker's 2015 calendar has already been planned out and should see him secure his place as one of the world's best heavyweight boxers.

The 22-year-old had his best fight as a professional at the Fight for Life in Hamilton on Saturday night, knocking out Brazilian Irineu Beato Costa Junior 31 seconds into the fourth round.

Some had questioned whether Parker had the raw power to end a fight with one punch but his effort at Claudelands Arena put those doubts to rest.

Joe Parker and trainer Kevin Barry pose for the camera after beating Irineu Beato Costa Junior in Hamilton.

"It was by far Joe's best performance," Parker's trainer, Kevin Barry, said.

"He's been showing me glimpses of that all year in the gym and in fights I'm seeing a little bit of it.

"I thought this was the perfect opponent and the perfect time of the year after putting five fights together in seven-and-a-half months, that we would see the best of Joseph, we would see the skills that he possesses, and I thought he was outstanding."

One thing we know about Kevin Barry is that he won't rush Parker into a fight he doesn't think he can win.

There are several fighters in the top 10 of the world rankings that Barry would like to see Parker fight.

The reality is that many of those fighters would want to avoid Parker, as they too target world title fights in the near future.

These are boxers looking up in the rankings for fights, rather than down.

Parker will get those fights in time, but a slow move up the rankings is the goal for 2015.

Barry said by the end of 2015 he wants Parker to be in the top 10 of each of the four major boxing association rankings and in the top five of at least one.

"At the end of last year, we said that at the end of 2014 Joseph would be ranked in the top 10. Well, Joseph is ranked No 10 with the WBA.

"I believe that this time next year Joseph will be ranked in the top 10 with the four major organisations and possibly even ranked in the top five with one of them.

"That'll be my goals for Joe next year."

Barry named three top-10 ranked boxers he is eyeing for Parker and said this fight proved Parker would beat WBO sixth-ranked Christian Hammer "tomorrow".

"We're looking closely at Bermane Stiverne, we're also looking at Ruslan Chagaev, the WBA regular champion, so there are other fighters out there I would like Joe to fight."