Kiwi boxing sensation Joseph Parker is about to become a dad.
The Herald on Sunday can reveal the 24-year-old star is days away from having his first child as he stands on the brink of a world heavyweight title shot.
The mother of Parker's baby is Laine Tavita. It's understood their romance dates back to high school.
Often referred to as "Gentleman Joe", Parker is training in Las Vegas for a crack at boxing's big time and will probably miss the birth, expected any day now, as he prepares to fight Andy Ruiz Jr for the WBO title - tipped to happen in Auckland on December 10.
Parker said through a spokesman that it was a private matter and he did not want to talk about it.