Joseph Parker trainer: We are going after Deontay Wilder

New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

World heavyweight champion Joseph Parker will look to unify his WBO belt with the WBC belt by fighting Deontay Wilder in April, according to a member of Team Parker.

Taylor Barry, son of Kevin and one of Parker's trainers, tweeted today "confirming" Parker was pursuing a fight with Wilder in Las Vegas in April.

According to ESPN, Parker's American co-promoter Bob Arum said they were "close to a deal" for a fight between Parker and Hughie Fury on either April 1 or 8 in New Zealand.

Wilder, who is on the radar of Parker's Duco Events management, holds the WBC heavyweight title and will put that belt on the line against Andrzej Wawrzyk in Brimingham in Wilder's home state of Alabama on February 25.

Parker holds the WBO belt, but Duco has talked about a partial unification of the titles by the Kiwi fighter meeting the undefeated Wilder for both championships. Britain's Anthony Joshua holds the IBF heavyweight title, while the WBA belt is vacant.

Wilder hasn't fought since sustaining a broken right hand and torn bicep in a win over Chris Arreola in July - a fight he won thanks to an eighth round stoppage.

Wilder is 37-0 with knockouts in all, but one fight.

"I can confirm we're talkin to him [Wilder]," says Duco director David Higgins. "We are in ongoing negotiations with Fury and Wilder, we'll model up each option, weigh the pros and cons, the risks and rewards and decide from there."