Warning for ‘Glass Goose’ Joshua

David Higgins has warned Eddie Hearn he is making ‘‘a grave mistake’’ by lining up Anthony Joshua against Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker.

The respective promoters are on the verge of finalising a deal for a unification bout between the two world champion boxers.

The bulk of the talk is done and a contract for a huge promotion in Britain early next year has been produced. Higgins is going over the mountain of paper with a microscope but is confident it will be finally signed off, perhaps as early as next week.

Higgins reverted to his quirky ways as he discussed the prospect of three of the belts being unified – Parker’ WBO title and Joshua’s IBF and WBA titles.

‘‘I spoke to Eddie Hearn and he is sunning himself in the Carribean drinking cocktails. He didn’t clarify whether it was on his own private island or not,’’ Higgins said with trademark cheek.

‘‘But Eddie needs to have a good rest because it’s the calm before the storm. We think he has made a grave mistake by feeding AJ to Joseph Parker ... he is sending his glass goose to the slaughter.

‘‘Why is Anthony Joshua a glass goose? Because he says stupid things about Robert Mugabe and suchlike in the media, that makes him a goose. The reason he is glass is he is getting flattened all the time in training camps. His chin is a myth.’’

Team Parker continue to question the durability of Joshua and are adamant their man has his measure for this huge occasion.

The prospect of a stadium fight that could be in front of around 80,000 fans doesn’t daunt Parker, rather he sees it as motivation.

‘‘This is another case of New Zealand taking it to the world,’’ Higgins said.

‘‘We are the underdog, we are going into his backyard in front of a cauldron of British fans. But we are confident that we can go to England, beat Anthony Joshua and go a step closer to unifying the division by bringing those two other belts back to New Zealand.

‘‘Joseph takes pride in fighting for New Zealand and Samoa and we are excited about this opportunity.’’

The breakthrough in negotiations came with both teams making last-minute compromises to see Parker’s split of the huge promotion ‘‘somewhere between 30 and 35 per cent’’ which could amount to as much as $12 million for his third of the share.

Only the details remain. The date and venue are still to be agreed on, as are ring size, style of the gloves and makeup of officials.

Higgins revealed in New Zealand on Thursday that a contract was now on the table and Hearn responded with caution overnight from Britain.

‘‘We are working hard to try and finalise the deal and are very hopeful,’’ Hearn told Sky Sports. ‘‘There is no fight until the contract is signed.

‘‘Either way, AJ’s next fight will be announced in early 2018.’’

Higgins has enlisted Wladimir Klitschko’s lawyer in London to look over the contract, based around the former champion’s huge fight with Joshua at Wembley earlier in the year.

If the numbers and details stack up, Higgins will head to Britain next week to seal the deal with Hearn.