As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua goaded his rivals in a series of provocative Twitter posts on Thursday as he looks to line up his next fight.
Having successfully defended his IBF, IBO and WBA titles against Carlos Takam last month, Joshua has voiced a desire to unify the division.
He sent tweets to WBO champion Joseph Parker and WBC title-holder Deontay Wilder, as well as taunting fellow Briton Tyson Fury, who has not fought since November 2015 due to fitness and mental health issues.
Joshua, 28, sent New Zealand's Parker a GIF of Kermit the Frog drinking tea, along with the message: "@joeboxerparker Sips tea, continues to read tweets and refreshes email.. Still No Offer."
He sent Wilder, known as the 'Bronze Bomber', a link to an 18-minute YouTube interview in which he spoke of his desire to fight the American, who has said he would be prepared to fight Joshua in Britain.
In an accompanying tweet, Joshua wrote: "A little word on the @BronzeBomber fight. Ready and waiting for the offer."
Joshua complained on Wednesday that potential opponents were happy to talk up the possibility of fighting him without attempting to make a bout happen.
But Parker's promoter, David Higgins, has claimed his fighter has an offer ready to fight Joshua next.
"Joshua is accurate - so I will make an offer. I will underwrite and promote the fight anywhere in the world to give Joshua 60 percent profit," Higgins told Sky Sports.
"The starting point is 50-50. But as a mark of respect, we would accept a bit less. But we will not accept an insult. Why should we? We're in talks, 100 percent. Joseph wants the fight but the deal has to be fair and reasonable. If they treat it like a regular voluntary, that devalues it. We're not selling our belt. We are going to take Joshua's belts, and we will be paid for our time.
"A proper undisputed world champion has not been done since Lennox Lewis, and if Joshua fought Parker it would a step [in that direction]. So it's not a regular voluntary [defence for Joshua]."
2023-10-19 22:31:50
