Hughie Fury to fight Joseph Parker for WBO heavyweight title in Auckland on May 6

Hughie Fury will fight Joseph Parker on May 6

Joseph Parker will defend his WBO heavyweight title against Britain's Hughie Fury on May 6 in Auckland.

It will be Parker's first defence of the belt he won in December, after it was vacated by Tyson Fury, Hughie's cousin.

The fight will pit two young fighters with unbeaten records against each other, the 25-year-old Parker having compiled a 22-0-18KO record while Fury, who is just 22, is 20-0-10KO.

Parker's Duco Events promoter David Higgins said: "Joseph loves fighting at home in front of his Kiwi fans, so we really wanted to give him that opportunity against a truly dangerous, gifted young opponent in Hughie Fury."

Joseph Parker beat Andy Ruiz to claim the WBO title

The reward for the winner could be a unification bout against Britain's IBF champion Anthony Joshua or American WBC title holder Deontay Wilder.

Hughie Fury cannot wait to face Parker and told Sky Sports News HQ: "These are the fights I want, these are the fights I have always wanted.

"These step-up fights, this is the mix I want to be in.

"I have had my downs and now I am on my way upwards. I have had illnesses in the past but that is all behind me and I just can't wait to move forward.

"I am confident whoever I am against. I believe I am the best out there and I am going to prove it."

Meanwhile, Tyson Fury, who surrendered his belts in October after admitting taking cocaine to combat depression, said earlier this week that he planned to return to boxing in May - although the the British Boxing Board of Control subsequently confirmed that he currently remained suspended.

Duco Events said Tyson is expected to join his cousin's entourage in Auckland and, in a promotional video released by Duco to coincide with the Parker fight announcement, Hughie Fury spoke of creating a heavyweight dynasty with his cousin.

"I'll win this title," he said. "Then Tyson can come back and we can both rule the heavyweight division together."

Tyson Fury has not fought since beating Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015

Before that, Joshua will put his IBF title on the line when he takes on Wladimir Klitschko in an eagerly-awaited Wembley Stadium showdown on April 29, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Watch Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko from Wembley Stadium, live on Sky Sports Box Office, on Saturday, April 29.