Joseph Parker has declared himself ready to push back towards world heavyweight contention next Wednesday night in Australia — and all thanks to a corner that includes boxing megastar Tyson Fury and Conor McGregor’s diet guru.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Parker revealed close mate Tyson will “100 per cent” be ringside for his showdown with Queensland’s Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu inside Margaret Court Arena next week.

It’s understood the Gypsy King will fly into Melbourne by Sunday to join his close friend, and training partner, for the final days of preparation.

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The New Zealand heavyweight also revealed that, for the first time in his career, popular US nutritionist George Lockhart is also be part of his camp.

Extremely respected across both boxing and Mixed Martial Arts, Lockhart has previously worked with the likes of UFC champions McGregor, Jon Jones, Georges St Pierre and Daniel Cormier.

The US Marine was introduced to Parker (31-3) back in 2021, when the pair were both inside Fury’s camp for the second Deontay Wilder fight.

While it has now been seven years since he won the WBO world heavyweight title, 31-year-old Parker insists he is ready to step back into championship contention.

Despite being stopped by Joe Joyce in September last year, the Kiwi had been on a run of six straight wins prior and then rebounded with a win over Jack Massey in January.

“So I want to perform and look good doing it,” Parker explained.

“Want to show people why they picked me to come here and fight in Australia.

“Against Joe Joyce, I got sick before the fight and it really messed up my whole preparation.

“Even last fight against Massey, I overtrained to the point where I was sweating profusely and couldn’t see.

“I just couldn’t get my camps right.”

Yet for his first ever headliner on Australian soil, Parker has brought Lockhart into a group that already includes Fury and Irish trainer Andy Lee, who arrives Down Under on Tuesday.

Asked if Fury would definitely be attending the Melbourne card, which is co-headlined by undefeated Aussie Nikita Tszyu, Parker replied: “Tyson has said he’s coming to the fight 100 per cent.

“He’s never been to this side of the world, never been to Australia.

“But he knows he has great support here, has a lot of people wanting to meet him.

“And when he does get here, Tyson will be with us to hang out, to support and just give us the good energy that we always have.

“Tyson has been extremely helpful and generous to me. He treats me like a brother.

“So we’re very close.

“And I’m grateful for everything he has done for me. Training alongside Tyson, alongside Andy Lee – people who have achieved great things in boxing – you feed off their mentality, feed off their energy, their experiences.

“I’ve been heavyweight champion of the world but there is now another level I want to get to.

“And that takes time.

“I just haven’t had the formula right yet.

“But now, this camp, I’ve gotten things to that point where I feel it’s right.”

Asked about the biggest change, he replied: “George Lockhart, that’s been the biggest thing.

“He’s the master.

“The guy is a beast.

“(Laughs) I’m actually parked outside Aldi right now and he’s in there food shopping for me.

“Imagine this big, stocky guy – muscular guy – with his trolley looking at all the fruits and vegetables.

“It surprises a lot of people but he’s very good at what he does.

“We had a week together in England, three weeks in Ireland and now two weeks here in Australia – and the results have been incredible.

“While I’m going to be a similar weight to previous fights, I’m going to be a different shape.

“And then it will show on the night.

“Because imagine training and some days you feel good, but others you’re off, feeling aches, feeling pains, lethargic, stuff like that.

“But with George, I feel like a beast every day.

“Have great energy.

“No aches or pains, no niggles; every morning I’m excited to get into the gym and train.

“I love it.”

Parker said he was also ready to prove wrong those critics who suggest he is no longer capable of winning heavyweight gold.

“I’ve heard people say I’m past my time,” he continued.

“That I’ve been world champion, had my time and now don’t have anything more to give.

“So I’m ready to prove people wrong.

“It’s all about finding the right people, the right team, right environment and I finally feel I have that.

“I’m happy Django took this fight because I want to stay active this year. I want to have three or four fights.

“Django is taking me at a time where I feel revived.”

The New Zealander quickly added, however, that he was well aware of the threats presented by Opelu (15-3-2).

“I lot of people are saying I should go out there and blast Django out,” he said.

“And I know what I’m capable of.

“But Djano, he presents difficulties

“He’s confident, throws a lot of punches and doesn’t shy away from a challenge.

“He’s fought Justis Huni, Lucas Browne … he puts it on you, can move, so I’m taking this fight very seriously.

“We made a plan at the start of this year to keep fighting, keep the momentum going and so when this fight came up, we took it.

“And I know it won’t take me long to get back to world title contention.

“I just need to keep fighting, keep winning.”