Boxing: Joseph Parker's three options as he prepares for heavyweight return

Joseph Parker watched Anthony Joshua's victory as he plans his next move. Photo / Photosport

Joseph Parker's next fight could be in Auckland, Christchurch or back in the United Kingdom as he plots a way back to the top of the heavyweight division.

The 26-year-old New Zealander-Samoan watched Anthony Joshua's latest victory while on holiday in Hawaii and told the Herald via a text message that he was impressed with the way the Englishman picked apart Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium this morning with a seventh-round stoppage.

Joshua looked rattled in the early rounds as Povetkin charged at him and scored with left and right hooks but in the end the Russian became the 21st opponent to be stopped by Joshua.

Parker remains the only professional to go the distance with him. His unanimous points defeat to Joshua in Cardiff in April came before a similar result against Dillian Whyte in London in late July and for Parker the holiday will soon be over as he prepares to get back into serious training – probably this time next week – as he eyes a return to the ring before Christmas.

Parker's promoter David Higgins pocketed a little cash after betting friends that Joshua would win by stoppage in the seventh round and now he has to prepare to outlay a lot more to attract a high-calibre opponent for Parker to New Zealand.

Higgins told the Herald he had "three irons in the fire", including a ready-made option in the UK, but it's Parker's preference to fight again in New Zealand for the first time since May last year. Since then he has fought Hughie Fury, Joshua and Whyte in the UK.

Joseph Parker throws a punch at Dillian Whyte. Photo / Photosport

The issue as Parker rebuilds following his defeat to Whyte in which he was floored twice – the first time due to a head clash – before he fought back to send his opponent to the canvas in the 12th round, is that the Kiwi, who lost his WBO world heavyweight title to Joshua, is seen as a risky proposition by prospective opponents who therefore want to be paid accordingly.

"We can't put up a weak opponent because the New Zealand public is too well-educated boxing-wise for that and it would make it tough to sell tickets and pay per views," Higgins told the Herald.

"The challenge is to bring a credible opponent to New Zealand to fight Joe and it is a challenge in the commercial sense."

Higgins said he hoped to be able to announce an opponent and venue soon but that Parker may be back in camp in Las Vegas before that happens. Parker is due to fly back there in about a week.

Higgins said it was possible that Parker could be back within range of a world title challenge by the end of next year but that the "stars had to align".

A good victory in his next fight could raise the interest of a rematch with Whyte or a bout with fellow Englishman Dereck Chisora, and a victory in either one or both of those could put Parker in line for a rematch with Joshua.

Joshua's next assignment will be on April 13 at Wembley and probably against Deontay Wilder, who is scheduled to fight Tyson Fury on December 1 at a United States venue yet to be announced.

"Joshua has dominated everyone except for Joseph Parker," Higgins said. "Full respect to Joshua for the way he fought today, but Joe going the distance with him shows how good a performance that was. And Joshua didn't even hurt Joe.

"That is a chink in Joshua's record that he might want to try to put right some time in the future."