10-25-2017, 03:58 PM
Anthony Joshua 'likely to target' Joseph Parker for early 2018 fight in London
Anthony Joshua is set to target Joseph Parker as his next opponent in potentially the most lucrative fight of the Kiwi's boxing career.
The Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday that Joshua, who holds the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) crowns is looking to add the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) title held by Parker with a February 3 fight mooted for London.
Joshua, who fights Carlos Takam in Cardiff on Saturday (NZT Sunday), was "likely to target" Parker next, followed by "a blockbuster battle with Deontay Wilder", the World Boxing Council (WBC) champion.
Anthony Joshua wants to unify the world boxing heavyweight titles, including a fight with Joseph Parker.
"I want to unify all the titles and fight all the champions by the end of 2018," Joshua told the Daily Telegraph.
A fight against Joshua would be the biggest pay packet of Parker's career.
The total purse for Joshua's April title defence victory over Wladimir Klitchsko reached NZ$76 million with the two fighters sharing the spoils.
But Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, told the Daily Mail that Parker could not expect an even share.
"He would have to accept getting less money than Wladimir, who deserved a 50-50 purse split. What's Parker worth? I would say 20 per cent is about right."
Hearn said several scenarios were possible.
Joshua could fight Parker at London's O2 Arena on February 3, or if that could not go ahead, a fight could take place in the Middle East in March or April.
"The plan is for AJ to unify the belts in 2018, and we really would like to create three massive fights next year," Hearn told the Daily Telegraph.
"Feb 3 is a potential date, at the O2, against Parker for the WBO belt, or if that doesn't work out, so too is a fight in the Middle East in the first quarter.
"Wilder is a target as well, in a summer fight. But we are also offering Wilder that Feb 3 date at the O2 Arena against Dillian Whyte."
"Ideally, we want Wilder to fight Whyte on Feb 3, and we have offered him US$3 million (NZ$4.3m) plus US television money, which is worth at least another million," Hearn said.
"It would be the perfect lead in to a Joshua fight, if Wilder could come through that."
International boxing writers were sceptical about Parker's chances of beating Joshua when the Kiwi won a points decision over England's Hughie Fury in Manchester in September.
Leading boxing websites claimed Parker did not "pose a serious threat" to Joshua.
"Although Parker improved to 24-0 [with 18 knockouts] he did nothing to suggest that he poses a serious threat to the top dog in the division, Anthony Joshua," a report on thesweetscience.com website said.
Ringtv.com said Parker "must refine his game if he is to be given a serious chance of defeating" either Joshua or Wilder in unification bouts.
Parker, Joshua and Wilder are all unbeaten in their respective arenas.
- Stuff
Anthony Joshua is set to target Joseph Parker as his next opponent in potentially the most lucrative fight of the Kiwi's boxing career.
The Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday that Joshua, who holds the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) crowns is looking to add the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) title held by Parker with a February 3 fight mooted for London.
Joshua, who fights Carlos Takam in Cardiff on Saturday (NZT Sunday), was "likely to target" Parker next, followed by "a blockbuster battle with Deontay Wilder", the World Boxing Council (WBC) champion.
Anthony Joshua wants to unify the world boxing heavyweight titles, including a fight with Joseph Parker.
"I want to unify all the titles and fight all the champions by the end of 2018," Joshua told the Daily Telegraph.
A fight against Joshua would be the biggest pay packet of Parker's career.
The total purse for Joshua's April title defence victory over Wladimir Klitchsko reached NZ$76 million with the two fighters sharing the spoils.
But Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, told the Daily Mail that Parker could not expect an even share.
"He would have to accept getting less money than Wladimir, who deserved a 50-50 purse split. What's Parker worth? I would say 20 per cent is about right."
Hearn said several scenarios were possible.
Joshua could fight Parker at London's O2 Arena on February 3, or if that could not go ahead, a fight could take place in the Middle East in March or April.
"The plan is for AJ to unify the belts in 2018, and we really would like to create three massive fights next year," Hearn told the Daily Telegraph.
"Feb 3 is a potential date, at the O2, against Parker for the WBO belt, or if that doesn't work out, so too is a fight in the Middle East in the first quarter.
"Wilder is a target as well, in a summer fight. But we are also offering Wilder that Feb 3 date at the O2 Arena against Dillian Whyte."
"Ideally, we want Wilder to fight Whyte on Feb 3, and we have offered him US$3 million (NZ$4.3m) plus US television money, which is worth at least another million," Hearn said.
"It would be the perfect lead in to a Joshua fight, if Wilder could come through that."
International boxing writers were sceptical about Parker's chances of beating Joshua when the Kiwi won a points decision over England's Hughie Fury in Manchester in September.
Leading boxing websites claimed Parker did not "pose a serious threat" to Joshua.
"Although Parker improved to 24-0 [with 18 knockouts] he did nothing to suggest that he poses a serious threat to the top dog in the division, Anthony Joshua," a report on thesweetscience.com website said.
Ringtv.com said Parker "must refine his game if he is to be given a serious chance of defeating" either Joshua or Wilder in unification bouts.
Parker, Joshua and Wilder are all unbeaten in their respective arenas.
- Stuff