Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are dominating the heavyweight boxing headlines at the moment and it’s no wonder since the trash talk has been almost fierce lately. One fighter who is struggling to get fight talks going with Joshua right now is WBO World heavyweight champion, Joseph Parker.
The Kiwi boxer is reportedly close to signing a contract to fight former WBA champion, Lucas Browne. Parker’s promoter Dave Higgins has been trying to get Parker-Joshua done but negotiations with Eddie Hearn are not progressing.
https://twitter.com/D_Higgins_Duco/status/928555374394843136
And this is due to the latest offer sent by Hearn.
“I got this weird email from Eddie’s email address, but he must have been hacked. He made the most ridiculously low offer. It could have been the most insulting offer in boxing history,” said Higgins to Sky Sports.
The Duco Events promoter has spoken to Parker about the offer and the WBO champion was also not impressed.
“To expect 40 percent is actually quite reasonable, because you have earned it, and it’s a unification. Of course I have mentioned it [to Joseph Parker] and he just laughed like I did,” told Higgins.
The promoter then made a tongue in cheek comment about how Hearn’s email might have gotten hacked since the offer he received was insulting.
“I’m not going to reply, because I don’t think it was Eddie Hearn. I reckon someone hacked his account, it was a scam. I reckon Eddie respects boxing and I reckon Anthony Joshua wouldn’t want to insult Joseph Parker. Joseph has worked his way from the ground up and earned the right. Joshua, I think, would understand and respect that, so it can’t possibly be AJ or Eddie that made the offer. It must be an email hack,” commented Higgins.
Higgins’ message is clear. They want a minimum of 40 percent from Hearn.
“I’ll give you a simple answer. They pay us 40 percent and not a cent less, or they will fight Wilder, who will obviously win and then we’ll fight Wilder 50-50. If they want to go fight Wilder, they can, and then we’ll fight Wilder on a 50-50 basis later in the year, once he has all three belts,” Higgins explained.
@anthonyfjoshua my belt's never for sale but I'll add your two to my collection when you're ready 👌🏼 @EddieHearn @D_Higgins_Duco #NeverBeenDropped
— Joseph Parker (@joeboxerparker) November 9, 2017
“We will come to England and fight AJ, but 40 percent is the bottom line and I can give my word now, not one percent less,” he continued.
Higgins also confirmed that for now they have ‘given up’ on trying to make the Joshua fight happen.
“We have got several fights on the table and I tell you this, we have pretty much given up on Joshua. Assuming someone hacked his email, I apologise to Eddie, and he’s welcome to give me a call. He’s got my number if he wants to actually make a respectable offer,” said the New Zealand based promoter.
For once it looks like there is clarity on how things will eventually work out in the heavyweight division. Joshua-Wilder is the next big title unification bout without a doubt.
Parker will most likely defend his WBO World heavyweight title against Lucas Browne next in March and fight the winner of Joshua-Wilder later on in 2018.
The Kiwi recently defended his title in September against Hughie Fury and won via somewhat controversial unanimous decision as many thought Fury had done enough to take the title.
Parker also announced not long ago that he would not be fighting again this year and will step back into action in 2018. Whether that’s against Browne or someone else, we’ll find out in the coming weeks.
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