Joseph Parker could fight his mandatory IBF world title challenge against current holder Anthony Joshua in London as early as March next year.
The New Zealand heavyweight, in his second week of training for his July 21 fight against Australian Solomon Haumono in Christchurch, was slated to meet Joshua between November 19 and January 19, according to IBF regulations.
However, several factors can delay his challenge, including the possibility of Joshua - who fights American Dominic Breazeale in London next weekend in a title defence - having a unification bout against either WBC title holder Deontay Wilder or fellow Englishman Tyson Fury, the WBO and WBA champion.
In an interview with The Ring magazine, Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn said a fight with Parker, 24, was likely to happen in the "spring", which would be between March and May.
"Parker is due to get a call on November 19 and it's possible that we have to take that one next spring. That's a really good fight between two young heavyweights and it would be exciting," Hearn said.