WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) is stunned by the recent position taken by promoter Eddie Hearn and his star fighter - IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs).
The two sides have been negotiating the possibility of a unification showdown in early 2018, and they are trying to get on the same page when it comes to the money. If they are able to reach a deal, the fight would likely land on a date in March or April.
Parker and his promoter, David Higgins, first began with a demand of a financial demand of an even 50-50 split.
Then Team Parker dropped their demand to a 60-40 split in Joshua's favor - but that was quickly rejected by Hearn.
Higgins and Parker then held a press conference on Wednesday to announce their "bottom line" position of a 65-35 split.
But, Hearn has rejected the bottom line split from Team Parker.
According to Parker, Joshua is not only requesting a massive piece of the financial pie - he also wants a rematch clause in place.
He believes that Joshua's resistance to even entertain a 65-35 split is an indication that he really doesn't want the fight.
“I want to test myself against the best, so this is a fight I really want,” Parker said. “David Higgins is doing everything possible to make it happen and he seems to be flushing out A.J.’s real position. If he won’t entertain a 35-65 split, then it’s pretty obvious he doesn’t want the fight to happen.
“It seems like I am such a big risk that he needs more than 65 percent - and a rematch clause.”
Parker was in action back in September, when he traveled to Manchester and won a twelve round decision over mandatory challenger Hughie Fury. Joshua entered the ring last month in a mandatory defense of his own, when he pulled off a tenth round stoppage of Carlos Takam at Principality in Cardiff, Wales.
2023-10-20 00:49:21
