LONDON, England -- We're into the final hours of fight week and, in the absence of a stacked undercard buzzing with names and storylines to investigate, a few familiar faces dominate the hubbub all wanting that moment on their channel drumming up more views.

Joseph Parker is easy to spot, if not from his imposing 6ft 4in frame or lingering entourage then the infectious jovial mood his presence exudes, no matter the situation.

Whether being squashed in a makeshift scrum or shuffled aside for a bigger personality he recognises from afar, everything is fine: Parker smiles and ignores several calls to depart to graciously offer more of his time. He likes it here, though the Kiwi would much rather prefer to be on the top table preparing for battle again and a second appearance of the year.

Queensberry chief Frank Warren told The Ring of the promotion's collective eagerness to keep Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) busy and potentially feature on this bill back in late April. What has happened since then?

Warren walked back those comments in mid-May, saying he'd spoken to Team Parker and a September return was more likely with an inevitable eye on the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois rematch, which will be streamed live on DAZN PPV tonight from 5.30pm BST.

The WBO have said they are next in rotation and the winner would need to satisfy their mandatory challenger - Parker as the interim champion - so either he'd fight for the belts or be elevated to full champion like Dubois found himself the beneficiary of last year.

Highly-regarded coach Andy Lee declared his charge was most deserving of the chance in the Usyk sweepstakes during an exclusive Sky Sports interview, given his impressive run saw him go from forgettable former champion to rejuvenated bonafide contender.

"Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, Martin Bakole. Six fights on the trot [since his 11th-round stoppage loss by Joe Joyce] and each performance has been more impressive than the last - I can't recall a heavyweight that's been in that type of form without getting a title fight. So he's earned and deserves it," the Irishman said in May.

Parker has conceded trash talk and cutting promos, something an emboldened Dubois is engaging in of late, isn't his style. Yet as the saying goes, closed mouths don't get fed.

So while he skilfully answers a variety of ways how Usyk will again beat the Brit unless something seismic changes from the opening bell tonight, the 33-year-old can't mask his frustration any longer.

"If I could have fought four or five times a year, I would have loved to. For now, one fight a year, it's just not good enough," he tells The Ring when asked about his dwindling activity compared to the aforementioned run that got him back into contention among the elite.

He talks about a preference to fight Usyk given the unbeaten Ukrainian's illustrious accomplishments across two weight divisions, swats away questions about Tyson Fury ending his retirement for a long-awaited Anthony Joshua showdown and tells a media scrum how he's backing Terence Crawford to beat Canelo Alvarez in two months' time.

More pressingly though, what about him?

"There was truth in the talks about fights with Derek Chisora, then Dave Allen yeah... but I want to wait for this result and see how it all unfolds," he continues, before doubling down on a desire to return between September and October after playfully telling others that he'd fight tomorrow if granted the chance. Sometimes waiting isn't ideal but the better option.

It's a stance he maintained on talkSPORT hours earlier, telling the panel he stands to gain little in a prospective Allen matchup before the pair did punditry together. Warren previously told The Ring it could feature on a Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5v5 event later this year.

"All respect to Dave and what he's done but I want to fight those above me, want to be world champion and fighting him isn't going to get me closer to my goal. Usyk or Dubois."

Parker's manager David Higgins told New Zealand outlet Stuff about a two-fight deal in place with Queensberry, expecting the belts will again fragment and he could fight for the full world championship as soon as three months' time. An expedited title tilt for Moses Itauma and a Joshua rematch are among whispers that have long featured his name too.

Chisora (36-13, 23 KOs) hasn't been forgotten, sitting tight as the IBF's top-ranked contender for Dubois' belt, while another Queensberry-backed heavy in Agit Kabayel (26-0, 18 KOs) awaits a Germany homecoming after recovering from a career-first knockdown to score a 6th-round stoppage of Zhilei Zhang, winning the WBC's interim title in February.

Maintaining patience through the buzz of others isn't an easy trait to have, especially at a time where Lee's services are certainly in high demand. Parker knows how difficult the route to this juncture has been for him though, so a hasty decision now could prove costly.