British boxer Tony Bellew offers his thoughts about a potential bout with Joseph Parker after the pair met for the first time in London this week.
Outspoken British boxer Tony Bellew remains interested in challenging Joseph Parker for the WBO world title, without committing to the Kiwi champion as the next man he wants to fight.
A cruiserweight world champion who stepped into the heavyweight division limelight by defeating former champion David Haye in March, Bellew is right in the mix as a potential opponent for Parker.
The Liverpool fighter has been expressing his liking for the match-up since beating countryman Haye, while the south Auckland slugger and his camp see the fight as an ideal way to boost his stocks in the thriving UK boxing landscape.
Parker must first defend his belt against undefeated Englishman Hughie Fury on September 23 in Manchester but Bellew reaffirmed he was "definitely interested" in a shot at the WBO strap.
"Look Joseph Parker is heavyweight champion of the world and I am definitely interested in facing him," the confident Merseysider said.
"We will see how the negotiations go. My team and Joseph's team are speaking and we are getting somewhere so the future is bright.
"I like the Joseph Parker fight. He's the heavyweight champion of the world. It does have a certain ring to it so I do like the thought of it.
While victory against Fury would be a good first step, disposing of a fighter with a following like Bellew would elevate Parker to a different level in a booming British scene.
Along with almost certainly being a big boost for Parker's popularity and back-pocket, it would put him in line for a potential unification clash with English superstar and WBA, IBF and IBO champion Anthony Joshua next year.
The promoter in charge of the affairs of both Joshua and Bellew, Eddie Hearn acknowledged all of that in a meeting with Parker's promoter David Higgins and trainer Kevin Barry in London earlier this week.
Parker, though, is not the only fighter on Bellew's radar.
A re-match with Haye is not off the table, while a clash with light heavyweight champion Andre Ward is also a juicy prospect after the American beat former division king-pin Sergey Kovalev for a second time last month.
Bellew, who broke his hand during his upset win against Haye, is booked for a fight at London's 02 Arena on December 16 but who he faces remains to be seen.
"Andre Ward is pound-for-pound king of the world so they say, everybody's writing me off if I take that fight," Bellew said.
"But it's a fight that I like so we'll see and then we have the rematch with the 'Hayfaker' so we will see. Listen time will tell. I will make my decision when I see fit and we will go from there."
Given he has fought most of his professional career at cruiserweight or light heavyweight, some have questioned Bellew's ability to mix it with the world's best heavyweights.
Those doubters have not necessarily been silenced since his win over Haye, who fought at cruiserweight for a considerable part of his career before stepping up to heavyweight in 2008.
Parker, at 193cm tall with the same reach, would have an advantage over Bellew (191cm tall and 188cm reach) in both departments.
But, after meeting Parker and getting the chance to size him up for the first time the week, the bullish Brit indicated that did not dent his confidence.
"[He is] exactly what I expected," Bellew said.
"Joseph is a unit, he's a heavyweight. Listen there is no such thing as a small heavyweight. I am not small; he is not small.
"I believe me and Joseph Parker make for a very good fight because he's a 'come forward' style fighter, I am a box fighter, it has all the earmarks of a classic fight.
"If it makes pounds it makes sense and believe you me it will make a lot of pounds."