Parker fight nearly a done deal as Joshua aims to cement his legacy

● Negotiations ‘95 per cent complete’ ● Briton aims to hold all five world titles

Anthony Joshua says negotiations are 95 per cent complete for him to fight Joseph Parker in March as he bids to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

The 28-year-old currently holds three of the five heavyweight titles, having this year added the WBA and IBO belts to the IBF belt he won in 2016.

He aspires to become the first boxer in history to hold all five titles and thinks a deal to fight WBO champion Parker in the next few months is close.

“What I think can be a reality is, I want to fight for the other championship belts,” Joshua told BBC 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme when asked what his ambitions are for 2018.

“There’s only two left, I have three. There’s five on the table and I have three of them, I want to fight for the fourth one, the WBO heavyweight championship of the world.

“Negotiations are tough, but, in terms of the love of the sport, I won’t let that get in the way of achieving my goal because legacy is important to me and I think we’re achieving something.

“To hold all five belts has never been done before, so I won’t let negotiations get in the way of securing my legacy and what I could achieve in the sport. I think we’re 95 per

0 Anthony Joshua wants to fight Joseph Parker in Britain. of the way there with completing with Joseph Parker.”

When asked when a fight with the New Zealander would take place and if it would be on British soil, Joshua added: “End of March, I would say.

“It has to be [in this country], the British support, what we’re achieving here is phenomenal. And I always remember when I was watching boxing, it was always about America, America, America and even being a world champion you have to fight around the world, but it’s nice to own the market here. We own the market and we’re not rushing anywhere.

“Let the British fans stay on home soil for a bit, let other people travel.”

Should he defeat Parker, Joshua would then need to take on and beat undefeated WBC champion Deontay Wilder to realise his ambition.

He also suggested he would be willing to fight fellow British boxer Tyson Fury in the new year. “Of course, he’s a lively opponent when he’s fit,” Joshua said about Fury.

“He has his own battles and demons to face and, once he’s got over them, he’s more than welcome to enter a ring with me. It’s something that we should be focusing on in 2018.

“With all due respect to Tyson Fury, I think it would be wise if his handlers got him a few fights, get the body ticking over again and then get that love for the sport back.

“A few wins under the belt and then we can get cracking.” Phil Taylor has the chance to end his illustrious career in perfect style when he faces Rob Cross in the final of the William Hill World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

The 16-time champion ensured he would make his swansong in the New Year’s Day showpiece with a 6-1 semi-final win over provisional-round qualifier Jamie Lewis on Saturday.

“I’m over the moon, I really am – it’s a struggle,” Taylor told Sky Sports Darts after reaching his 21st world final.

The 57-year-old from Stoke, who has won this title 14 times and the BDO version twice, will retire after the tournament.

But asked if he thought it was fate that he would leave the sport by winning a first title since 2013, Taylor added: “No. First round, Chris Dobey, you’re in for a battle. Get past Chris Dobey maybe you’ll have a chance.

“When I got to Gary Anderson [in the quarterfinals] I thought, ‘That’s you done now’, because Gary is younger, fitter, stronger and a lot better than me.

“But he didn’t perform, he didn’t perform like Gary Anderson so I just took advantage. I’m just going to relax, get my rest in and get ready for the final.”

In stark contrast to veteran Taylor, Cross is contesting his first world final after beating defending champion Michael van Gerwen 6-5 in a remarkable semi-final.

Cross, in his first season as a professional, took advantage of uncharacteristically poor finishing from the Dutchman and held his nerve in sudden death.

“Words can’t explain it,” he told Sky Sports.

“I will come out [in the final] and want to win.

“He [Taylor] is my favourite player actually. He was dominant and now he’s leaving. It’s going to be special for him but at the same time I’ve got to do my own job to win that game.

“I never expected this, it’s amazing. I never expected this rise, I really didn’t.

“I’m just a working boy from a normal household and, don’t get me wrong, I believe in my own ability and that’s only why I got here.”