Joseph Parker - Floyd Mayweather big favourite to beat Connor McGregor

Floyd Mayweather, left, and Conor McGregor exchange harsh words during a promotional stop in Toronto on Wednesday. Photo / AP

Kiwi heavyweight champion Joseph Parker says Floyd Mayweather is his big favourite to beat Conor McGregor but isn't ruling out an upset either.

Parker, in training at his Las Vegas base for his WBO world heavyweight title defence against Hughie Fury next month, has spent time with Mayweather and believes the American will be too skilful for UFC champion McGregor.

Invited to watch a Mayweather training session recently, Parker told the Herald: "He trains like a beast so you can see why he's remained at the top for a long time."

Parker added: "McGregor is young, hungry and is training the house down for this fight.

"He's the bigger guy. In terms of boxing, everyone is going for Floyd because he's been a champion for a long time. But if McGregor lands a big shot, it might be a different story.

He just has to catch him, but I feel that Floyd's boxing is on another level. That's why it's exciting to see this fight - there's a chance he could be hit with a big shot, but there's also a chance that [McGregor] won't even touch him."

Parker is nearly halfway through his training camp for the fight against Fury in Manchester on September 23, and told the Herald he is as fit and as focused as he has ever been.

In the meantime, he is hoping to be ringside for the Mayweather v McGregor fight which will be held on August 26 in Las Vegas. Tickets cost many thousands of dollars each, but Parker said he might have a contact who could get him in a little cheaper.

"It would be cool to be there," he said, of one of the most hyped fights in history.

Thousands of people have attended the press conferences between the pair, with Irishman McGregor more than holding his own.

Whether he retains that edge in the ring remains to be seen, and that's what makes it an interesting fight for Parker. "The atmosphere would be crazy and it's going to be a part of history - to see a UFC fighter and boxer coming together."