By George Heagney

Kiwi boxer Joseph Parker has been going toe-to-toe with the world's best heavyweight in preparation for his June fight.

Parker and his trainer Kevin Barry are in camp in Miami, training with world champion Wladimir Klitschko as Parker builds up to his June 13 fight in Palmerston North.

Parker was initially anxious about sparring with the world champion, but was fine after a couple of sessions and has held his own against the big Ukrainian.

"It doesn't get any better," Barry said from Miami. "There are lots of big men in the heavyweight division but Klitschko happens to be the very best of them.

"Joe's still very much a work in progress. Klitschko and his team have been very complimentary."

Klitschko is the holder of the WBA Super, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles, so for Parker, 23, to be training with him is a big deal.

"It's a huge experience," Barry said. "It's every bit as much of an experience as I thought it would have been for Joe.

"We've come a long way in the last two years and taken some pretty big steps.

";With fights against [Brian] Minto, [Marcelo] Nascimento and Sherman [Williams], they're all fights against experienced opponents that moved us into the rankings with great success.

"He's ranked No 8 in the world in WBA and No 10 in the world in WBA. This experience, coming into camp with Klitschko, is the biggest step in Joseph's career."

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Barry said when Parker was on the undercard for Klitschko's bout against Alex Leapai last year, Parker was in awe of Klitschko.

"Joe's skill level is a lot higher than when were in Germany 12 months ago," Barry said. "We've been together for just over two years and it's a huge difference.

"It's massive to see how far he's come in the last year."

Barry said Parker had given Klitschko the best workout in sparring. Two of the eight partners have been replaced for not being up to scratch.

Barry said it's a huge mental exercise to get in the ring with a great fighter like Klitschko and working with Klitschko is something they could do again.

";Joe now knows how much more we need to do with our conditioning, stamina and strength and everything else."

Barry said comparisons have been made between parker and British Olympic gold medal winner Anthony Joshua.

Just who Parker will fight is another question, but Barry said they are close to naming him.

After Parker beat Jason Pettaway last month, Barry said it is important to give Parker a good test in his next bout to show his development.

"It will probably be Joe's biggest challenge."

They will be in Miami until next week, then head back to Las Vegas for a six-week training camp, before returning to New Zealand before the fight.