WBA “super” and IBF title holder Joshua had been edging closer to a heavyweight unification clash with WBO king Parker and his promoter Eddie Hearn suggested a deal could be reached within two weeks.
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Heavyweight champion Joshua spent time with former Arsenal striker Henry on Thursday, with both stars sharing selfies of the meeting on social media
The 28-year-old former Olympic champion, currently ranked the world’s top heavyweight, is the odds-on favourite to win the award after his victory over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in April earned him the WBA and IBO belts to add to his existing IBF title.
WBC title holder Deontay Wilder has also been targeted by Joshua, the WBA ‘Super’ and IBF champion, and Hearn is optimistic this blockbuster bout can take place after holding recent talks with the American’s advisor Shelly Finkel.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is increasingly “confident” of a fight after weeks of discussions over the purse split.
The blockbuster clash is widely expected to happen in 2018 with Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, flying to New York last week to meet with Wilder’s team.
Eddie Hearn has been in negotiations with Parker’s camp over a unification bout with WBA and IBF champion Joshua, although there have been roadblocks along the way
Joshua became the unified champion in April when he added the WBA strap to his IBF title with victory over Wladimir Klitschko in only his 19th professional contest.
Joshua, the IBF and WBA champion, has held talks with WBC king Wilder over a potential clash, while WBO champion Parker has also outlined his desire for a unification fight with British boxing’s biggest star.
The IBF and WBA world heavyweight champion has boasted an undefeated record in his 20 professional fights – his latest victory coming over Carlos Takam in Cardiff – and Hearn believes this will be a key element of Joshua’s potential.
Talks to agree a world heavyweight title unification fight began on Thursday and, with Joseph Parker an alternative option for Joshua, Wilder has been warned not to scupper his chance.
While the Brit looks to keep moving up the ladder in the world of boxing, the Ukranian veteran called time on an illustrious career.
Joshua’s plan to add the WBC and WBO belts to his IBF and WBA gold has gathered pace since his most recent defence against Carlos Takam, and Hearn now hopes to pair him against fellow unbeaten champion Wilder, although Joseph Parker remains an option.
Joshua holds the IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight titles, while Parker holds the WBO crown. American Deontay Wilder holds the WBC title.
Joshua unified the heavyweight division with victory over Wladimir Klitschko in front on 90,000 supporters at Wembley in April before beating Carlos Takam at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium last month.
Wilder, the WBC heavyweight champion, scaled just 15 stone, 9 lbs when he knocked out Bermane Stiverne inside one round in New York on Saturday – compared to Joshua’s career-heaviest 18 stone, 2 lbs in his defeat of Carlos Takam a week earlier.
Wilder remained on course for a high-profile bout with the undefeated Briton by beating Bermane Stiverne with a first-round knockout in New York overnight.
The former heavyweight world champion stoked up his rivalry with Joshua this week by suggesting on social media that he will make a comeback like ring great Muhammad Ali for a showdown with ‘AJ’
Following his stoppage victory over Carlos Takam in Cardiff on Saturday, Joshua reiterated his desire to fight the Bronze Bomber, stating: “Boxing needs it and so do I, 100 per cent. It has to happen.”
Joshua retained his IBF, WBA and IBO world heavyweight titles with a 10th-round stoppage-win over Carlos Takam in Cardiff on Saturday.