Parker eyes Joshua as ‘ultimate’ fight
Joseph Parker wants Anthony Joshua for his next fight.
The WBO world heavyweight champion emphasised that as options and plans for 2018 were outlined at a media conference in Auckland yesterday.
Parker isn’t short of worthy and lucrative alternative fights but he made it clear that unification is his preference, targeting Joshua’s IBF and WBA belts.
‘‘I want to fight Joshua. He has got two belts and I want to test his chin and put on a great show,’’ he said. ‘‘Those [other] fights would be good to keep busy, but the ultimate fight is to fight Joshua. He is the preferred option for us.’’
Parker’s trainer Kevin Barry backed that up, declaring: ‘‘I think the guy is there for the taking and I want us to get in front of him before someone else beats him.’’
As revealed by Stuff earlier in the week, Parker’s promoter David Higgins and Joshua’s boss Eddie Hearn, have started meaningful discussions to make it happen.
After initial talks they agreed they would ask their fighters who both gave them the green light to try to arrange a bout, likely to be in the UK in March or April.
‘‘The message was they want each other next. So it’s really down to a question of the deal and the money,’’ Higgins said.
He believed negotiations needed to start at 50-50 but he was prepared to budge.
‘‘We would acknowledge that Joshua, if the fight was to happen in his home nation, has a big fan base and you might go a little his way, but not a lot,’’ Higgins said.
‘‘If they really want to unify now, they will pay more than otherwise, more than a voluntary.
‘‘We have other options and if he disrespects us, we will go in another direction. The fans want to see that fight but it might be that it happens in the second quarter or another year.’’
Parker’s alternatives aren’t to be scoffed at, both in terms of opposition and reward.
They have an agreement ‘‘in principle’’ to fight Australian Lucas Browne in March, though that deal has been stalled by the emerging Joshua talks.
Elsewhere, Parker’s American co-promoter Bob Arum has offered a Las Vegas fight on March 10 against Bryant Jennings to be televised live on ESPN. Arum’s Asian connections have also firmed up a multi-million dollar offer to go to China and defend the belt against WBO No 11 Zhilei Zhang.
Higgins labelled talk of a midyear fight in Russia against Alexander Povetkin as an ‘‘exciting and lucrative option’’.
He also revealed that WBC champion Deontay Wilder shouldn’t be discounted and they were prepared to chase him if Joshua short-changed them.
‘‘Wilder’s crew put a figure on the table that wasn’t enough. If they put the right money on the table we would go to America and fight Wilder,’’ Higgins said, adding he wouldn’t be rushed into any hasty decisions.
‘‘There is no cut-off, it’s a moving feast. We will do a deal when we do a deal. It’s all about doing the right fight at the right time for the right money. We don’t feel under any pressure, we are just running due diligence and looking at the best options for Joseph.’’
Parker has just started a sixweek camp with Barry in Auckland, opting not to fight before Christmas and that has given Higgins time to work some magic.
But Barry said he would like the next fight sorted quickly.
‘‘I’d like to know this week. Whether it is going to happen this week, I doubt.’’