Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker will now fight for the interim world title when they meet at the AO Arena in Manchester on September 24. parker vs joyce live
The stakes are now even higher ahead of what was already a highly-anticipated fight between the two heavyweights.
A request from promoters for Joyce and Parker was approved by the WBO, amid concerns that the winner would not be given a due mandatory title shot.
Joyce and Parker, ranked one and two respectively, had originally been scheduled to fight on July 2, but the latter’s partnership with BOXXER led to a postponement.
World heavyweight champion Parker has admitted to struggling with motivation after becoming a father for the first time.
"When I wasn't a father I was doing boxing for myself because I enjoyed it, but mostly for others," he said on the Unibet Lowdown. "I'm not sure how this sounds, but I was doing it more for my dad because it was his dream and I was doing it more for my coach Kevin (Barry), who wanted to have a heavyweight world champion.
"When I achieved it I sort of wasn't the happiest, maybe because it was for them. Now that I have my wife and my kids, in boxing I am a lot more motivated because I want to do it for myself and my immediate family.
"Now I have a purpose. Now I am motivated. Now I am driven. I have my wife and my kids at home who I have left and I have missed a lot of special occasions because of this goal that I have.
"The goal is to appreciate each fight, appreciate the moment, to live in the moment and be present. If I think about stuff way down there I am not going to enjoy the process. I want to enjoy the training, the food, everything that is involved with the camp.
"I want to enjoy going home and seeing my family after a camp but, for now, I am in camp and I am going to enjoy every single moment of it.
"Now it is about the journey, the destination will take care of itself."
Amanda Serrano will also be in action at the AO Arena on September 24, making her UK debut against Dane Sarah Mahfoud.
All of the action will be shown on BT Sport Box Office in the UK, and you can also watch the live stream on the BT Sport Box Office app.
Joseph Parker to talkSPORT: “I think I’m going to make him quit.
“I know he doesn’t quit and there’s no quit in him from the fights we’ve seen, but when you keep attacking and keep chipping away eventually he will feel it.
“It’s a high risk fight for both guys. There are other fights out there, but there were none that would propel me to the top.
“The Joyce fight for me was the right fight. There is a rematch clause, so the goal is to fight him and beat him. Then fight and beat him again in December.”
Frank Warren said: “This is a fantastic fight that really keeps the heavyweight ball rolling. It has proved to be a little while in the making, but this is a match between two in-form and quality heavyweights fighting to be first in the queue for a world title shot. parker vs joyce live stream
“It is one the fans want to see so I am delighted to be taking this blockbuster fight to Manchester, the biggest indoor arena in the country, which we want to see packed to the rafters.