Hearn: Come test Joshua’s chin

Eddie Hearn won’t give Joseph Parker his desired 35 per cent of a fight purse, but says a unification bout deal with Anthony Joshua is close.

Parker’s promoter David Higgins insisted that a 35 per cent cut was their final offer to Joshua’s boss Hearn as they called out the IBF and WBA champion, accusing him of having a ‘‘glass chin’’.

While Hearn appeared bemused by the promotional video that featured Joshua being knocked to the canvas by a series of opponents, it seems to have helped the cause of gaining his attention and that of the UK boxing market.

‘‘It’s not a million miles away but it ain’t happening at 65-35,’’ Hearn told IFV TV in a fresh interview on Thursday as the prospect of WBO champion Parker getting a unification fight continued to draw headlines.

"I would like to make the fight ... we are close, we are close."

When asked if he would see a 75-25 split in profits to Joshua as fair, Hearn didn’t hesitate: ‘‘No, I think that probably undervalues Joseph Parker.’’

‘‘We’ve said all along that a 35-65 per cent was both fair – and our bottom line,’’ Higgins said after hearing Hearn’s comments. Now it seems that Eddie is pretty close to agreeing with us. That’s very encouraging.’’

Hearn said Parker’s belt deserved respect but the reality was he brought little else ‘‘to the pot’’ other than New Zealand TV rights.

‘‘There is an opportunity here for Joseph Parker to make a huge amount of money and also, if he wins, be the hottest thing in the heavyweight division. So we feel like we are being very fair.’’ ’’