Parker prepared to take lower cut

Joseph Parker is willing to take 35 per cent of a purse to make the fight with Anthony Joshua happen and says they are close to making that happen.

Promoters for WBO champion Parker and IBF and WBA champion Joshua are in increasingly serious negotiations about a unification fight early next year.

They finally seem to be finding some common ground. Parker’s boss at Duco Events David Higgins started with a hardline demand of 50 per cent of what could be a massive pay-day and brought that down to 40 per cent. Parker appears ready to compromise even further to try to seal the deal.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has constantly questioned what Parker brings to the table apart from his belt but it seems he is also making concessions as the process ramps up.

‘‘There is improvements on the offer. It keeps creeping up. I think it’s nearly where we want it to be,’’ Parker tolds TalkSport in the UK as the prospect of the fight draws increasing interest there.

‘‘I’m willing to take 35 if they’re willing to give it. I think that would be a good deal.

‘‘Both fighters want to get it on, I feel like there is interest from his side ... but it has to make sense business-wise. It has to be a deal that everyone is happy with.

‘‘It’s about finding common ground that everyone is happy with ... [they] just have to go up a little bit.’’

Parker confirmed talks were now daily.

‘‘If we continue to talk and continue to negotiate and work through it, I think we can make something happen really soon,’’ Parker said.

Parker believes he can knock out Joshua, feeling the big Brit’s confrontational style suits him.

He wants Joshua as his next fight but is also willing to fight the third champion in the heavyweight title equation, WBC belt hodler Deontay Wilder of the United States.