New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker is set to return to the ring with a fight against British cruiserwieght Jack Massey in Manchester on January 22.
Joseph Parker will get back in January. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Parker is coming off a TKO loss to Britain's Joe Joyce in September.
Massey will step up to the heavyweight division for the first time, after a successful career as a cruiserweight with 20 wins and one loss.
He holds the IBO's world cruiserweight title.
Parker, a former WBO champion who is in the WBC and WBO top ten rankings, will be the heavy favourite to win.
The fight is on the undercard for the main event which pits Chris Eubank Jr against Liam Smith in a British middleweight contest.
Massey, who has 11 knockout victories, is eager, saying: "I don't shy away from a challenge."
Another defeat for Parker could be disastrous for his career.
Ben Shalom, Parker's British promoter at Boxxer, announced the bout.
"Local lad Jack Massey has been begging me for this fight against Joseph Parker. He has got huge support in Manchester, and now he'll be fighting one of the biggest names in boxing."
"Parker is coming back after his fight of the year contender with Joe Joyce and will want to show exactly what he is all about.
"It will be very interesting to see how Parker reacts against a hometown favourite," Shalom said.
