Parker’s final offer to Joshua
Joseph Parker’s handlers have offered their ‘‘final bottom line decision’’ of a 35 per cent split of a fight with a heavyweight boxing title unification bout with Anthony Joshua as they released video footage of the big Brit being regularly floored.
Duco Events boss David Higgins said discussions with Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn were continuing for a fight early next year. They had exchanged emails again on Tuesday night and the feeling was they were getting closer to a deal.
But Parker has taken an aggressive approach to try to flush out Joshua.
The video clips showed several fighters including Daniel Dubois, David Price, Wladimir Klitschko and Dillian White giving the IBF and WBA champion all sorts of problems at various stages of his career, including sparring, sending him to the canvas.
Duco Events, with Parker chipping in to provide half the money, then offered any Anthony Joshua fan $39,000 to provide video evidence of Parker being dropped.
‘‘There is no disrespect here. It’s all in the public domain and it’s all factual,’’ Higgins said of the Joshua struggles on display.
‘‘It’s the best kept secret in British boxing. It’s a genuine weakness backed by fact.
‘‘We want to build the hype in the UK. We will cop some hate as we often do ... but this is all fact.
‘‘And it’s fact that Joseph has a granite chin ... he’s never been dropped as an amateur, in sparring, or as a professional.’’
Higgins said the fight was now in the hands of Hearn and Joshua to make the deal.
‘‘It’s our final bottom line decision,’’ Higgins emphasised of the 35 per cent split they were prepared to take.
‘‘We want an open book on revenue share. We have gone from 50 to 40 to 35 per cent of the net profit and are willing to take the fight next.
‘‘We feel anything less is disrespectful or a disgrace. Given Joshua has two belts and Joe has one, a share of about two-thirds and one-third split seems natural justice.
‘‘We want to make the fight happen, we are not all hype. It’s now up to Eddie and Anthony.
‘‘There are no excuses ... they can have 65 per cent of a very, very big pie.’’
‘‘Our message to Anthony Joshua and it’s a serious message - is we want the opportunity to test your chin so much that we’ll let you keep 65 per cent of the profit, even though it’s an intercontinental unification.
‘‘Show Parker some respect and make the fight.’’
Parker, increasingly vocal on social media, said he was comfortable with the approach being taken by his handlers.
‘‘AJ and I want to unify and they (the promoters) should make it happen,’’ Parker said.
‘‘I’m happy my team is taking care of that. I’m staying in shape in case it happens.’’
Parker has recruited high profile personal trainer Sean Hughes to join his team as he looks to lose weight and increase fitness, believing that will help his feet and hand speed.Hughes has previously trained members of the All Blacks, the Black Sticks and Team New Zealand.
Higgins confirmed that the backup plans with Australian heavyweight Lucas Browne were continuing as they looked at alternative, and lucrative, options to Joshua.