ANTHONY JOSHUA’S NEXT opponent is looking overwhelmingly as though it will be New Zealand’s WBO World heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.
The Kiwi, 24-0 (18KOs), won the WBO’s answer to Joshua’s IBF and WBA world title straps with a majority decision over Andy Ruiz last year, and has this week launched a media campaign of sorts in which he called for a bout with the consensus World heavyweight champion.
Following negotiations this morning, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has indicated to Sky Sports that a deal is within ‘single digits’ – a percentage – away from being signed and sealed.
Hearn told Sky Sports News: “We are single digits, percentages away right now, and we have to be creative. We have to look the revenue streams. We are already talking about potential venues, potential dates, so it’s a good sign.
I believe they want the fight. They have done a good job on Anthony Joshua, because his message to me last night was very simple, ‘let me at him.’
“He’s winding him up, he’s pushing the right buttons to get the bite out of Anthony Joshua and Anthony wants to fight Joseph Parker. He wants to do a job on him and we hope it’s the next fight for the spring.”
In a recent interview with The42, WBC World heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder spoke of his ire at Hearn’s frequent revealings of ‘AJ’ text messages, accusing Joshua of not speaking for himself and perhaps even underestimating his own ability.
Wilder, it seems, will have to wait until at least next summer for his own piece of the pie as Parker edges closer to a much–anticipated Joshua showdown.
“Yes, talks there are ongoing,” Hearn said of a potential Joshua-Wilder clash. “We’re certainly further away on the Deontay Wilder fight, in terms of expectations on both sides, then we are with the Joseph Parker fight.
“My old man was in New York last week. I got him to have a little chat with Shelly Finkel. They are both the older generation of the sport, very good minds. Had a good meeting in New York, talking about the fight.
“I think that one looks like one that could be for the summer. But my job is simple really. Anthony Joshua has told me: ‘bring me the belts, I want to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world,’ and to do that, he has to go through the champions.”
Speaking yesterday in Dubai, Joshua lambasted Parker for his relentless media assault, describing he and his team as being ‘unprofessional’.
“The fight’s still not made. He’s investing his time in the wrong areas.
Does he want publicity? Is it a PR stunt? I think I’ve defended it now four or five times, with no complaints.
“Against one of the all-time greats [Wladimir Klitschko], we came together and put on a great show, so what’s so difficult with fighting this little kid, [who is] doing press conferences talking a load of rubbish.
“I don’t get it, we work with people. It’s just very unprofessional of them.
“It’s a shame because boxing has so much credibility. Stuff like that takes away from the creme de la creme of the sport.”
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