BoxRec

"Anthony Joshua 'very close' to agreeing date to fight Joseph Parker" (Source: The Telegraph):

Anthony Joshua is “very close” to agreeing a heavyweight unification fight with Joseph Parker as promoter Eddie Hearn admits he will “overpay” the New Zealander to secure the showdown which is likely to go ahead on either March 24 or March 31. The 02 Arena, or even a return to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff is a possibility, Hearn told The Telegraph.

Hearn had said 48 hours previously that the talks were “at a deadlock”, which was later confirmed by Parker’s promoter David Higgins, from New Zealand, with the two teams having refused to compromise over the split of the purse. “I’d like to think, when I sit down for Christmas dinner, the fight will be signed, sealed and delivered, so that the two fighters can get into camp in the New Year,” Hearn said.

Thoughts?

Hopefully Parker does the damage and fights Wilder in 2019 after Parker-Joshua II rematch .

I would still keep Povetkin as a backup, still very nice match! Povetkin and Parker are the best heavyweights left out there, Ortiz coming just behind

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑11 Dec 2017, 18:55 "Anthony Joshua 'very close' to agreeing date to fight Joseph Parker" (Source: The Telegraph):

Anthony Joshua is “very close” to agreeing a heavyweight unification fight with Joseph Parker as promoter Eddie Hearn admits he will “overpay” the New Zealander to secure the showdown which is likely to go ahead on either March 24 or March 31. The 02 Arena, or even a return to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff is a possibility, Hearn told The Telegraph.

Hearn had said 48 hours previously that the talks were “at a deadlock”, which was later confirmed by Parker’s promoter David Higgins, from New Zealand, with the two teams having refused to compromise over the split of the purse. “I’d like to think, when I sit down for Christmas dinner, the fight will be signed, sealed and delivered, so that the two fighters can get into camp in the New Year,” Hearn said.

Thoughts?

I'm sure the Parker side won't budge on their demands... Sometimes it's not the gate appeal of a boxer... Sometimes you have to pay a fighter for the massive beating he's going to take to get a big fight done. Hopkins got an insincere offer from De La Hoya and he jumped on it -- because he knew Oscar was going to withdraw the offer quickly though it was a 75/25 split to fight for Hopkins' Middleweight Title.. You have to take the shitty end of the stick sometimes.

Surely Parker realizes he's the underdog and could very well be in for a bad beating and KO like every other opponent Joshua has faced... He'll say he's extremely confident of victory no matter what he thinks... The reality is, Parker has failed to KO mediocre competition.. I thought Hughie Fury caught him with better and sharper punches although I never thought Hughie had very good skills.. But 2 of the judges were bought in that one.. It wasn't an 118-110 fight.

Sometimes judges rationalize their scores by saying one guy was "running" and one guy was making the fight... If that were true everybody would have to fight the same style to win the rounds... If you're taller with a much better reach why not use the ring and make your opponent run into your shots?

YAWN!

If this fight is signed -- it won't be a yawn... I hope Hearn meets Team Joshua's demands whatever they are.

superior black josh destroys him

Kalan wrote: ↑12 Dec 2017, 01:57 If this fight is signed -- it won't be a yawn... I hope Hearn meets Team Joshua's demands whatever they are.

I don't think it's Joshua's demands that are the stumbling block You meant Team Parker didn't you?

It should be a decent fight but I'd like to see Parker fight Povetkin and it will be highly unlikely to ever happen if the Joshua fight goes ahead.

jamamb wrote: ↑12 Dec 2017, 02:24 superior black josh destroys him

Now now. Play nicely.

..from my perspective WBO belt/title is on sale, if Joshua wants to have it, he should be prepared to show some flexibility..

Grailer wrote: ↑11 Dec 2017, 19:50 Hopefully Parker does the damage and fights Wilder in 2019 after Parker-Joshua II rematch .

Crack is good

asdfjkl wrote: ↑11 Dec 2017, 21:13 I would still keep Povetkin as a backup, still very nice match! Povetkin and Parker are the best heavyweights left out there, Ortiz coming just behind

Having a back up saved Eddie's bacon last time and I don't doubt he will have one lined up for all Joshua fights from now on, but it won't be Povetkin as he is too big a name and would see it as an insult.

Whyte would be more probable. Although, even then it would be difficult as the original bout would have been sold as a unification.