Anthony Joshua is “very close” to agreeing a fight with Joseph Parker as promoter Eddie Hearn admits he will “overpay” the New Zealander to secure the unification clash.
Parker’s promotional team had suggested last week that Joshua was “refusing to compromise” over terms, with the WBO champion offering a 35-65 split in favour of ‘AJ’, who holds the WBA ‘super’ and IBF belts.
But Hearn has held more favourable recent talks about the fight, which is likely to be staged in March.
“We’re close,” Hearn exclusively told Sky Sports. “We’re at a stage now where we’re having to compromise on certain points that we don’t really want to, but ultimately we’re going to have to because if you want to fight Anthony Joshua, these guys – they want to be overpaid.
The Parker fight is very close. Hopefully we can get that over the line before Christmas, pick up the WBO title in March, and then move on for the big one against Wilder for all the belts on the line.
“He is the golden ticket fight, the ‘Willy Wonka’ golden ticket fight that everybody wants and unfortunately for him, it’s going to mean sometimes taking a deal that isn’t right.”