At a press conference yesterday in New Zealand, the WBO world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (24-0) and his promoter David Higgins addressed the media and made it clear that their number one goal is a lucrative unification bout against IBF, IBO, WBA world champion Anthony Joshua.
Recently a big sticking point in the Joshua vs. Parker discussions was revealed to be the money, with Higgins publically scoffing at and ridiculing a 80-20 split which was supposedly offered by Hearn. This has since been denied by Hearn and he said no offer had been made.Higgins seems to insinuate that if the money is right, that is the fight that will happen. However if the deal being offered doesn’t measure up to their expectation, they are likely to go a different route with Lucas Browne being mooted as a major candidate to become an alternative option. “Only if the money is right. We are in negotiations, if we feel it doesn’t respect us with the split then we will go in another direction,” Higgins stated.
Sizing up the possible alternative opponent, Parker’s promoter argued Browne is a legitimate threat in the heavyweight division.“Lucas Browne wouldn’t be a keep busy fight. I rate him in the top five punchers in the division. If the business is right we fight Joshua. I want us to get in front of Joshua before somebody else takes him out,” Barry added
"Let's fight and prove who is the best in the world!"@joeboxerparker tells us he is ready to show just how good he is by taking on @anthonyfjoshua… 🥊🥊🥊 pic.twitter.com/sCKnWHbnhV
— talkSPORT Breakfast (@TSBreakfast) November 8, 2017
“Lucas Browne wouldn’t be a keep busy fight. I rate him in the top five punchers in the division. If the business is right we fight Joshua. I want us to get in front of Joshua before somebody else takes him out,” Barry said
Parker, himself made his intentions very clear to the press, confirming that Joshua is his preferred option to face next.”Anthony Joshua [is who I want next], he’s got the belts. I want to test his chin,” Parker emphatically said.
Parker has now held the WBO world championship for almost a year, since winning the vacant title against Andy Ruiz in December 2016. He has since made two defences of that title against Răzvan Cojanu and Hughie Fury respectively. Parker has now begun his training camp in his native homeland in anticipation of his third world title defence.
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