Anthony Joshua set to face rival heavyweight champions Joseph Parker next, says agent

Joseph Parker (right) in action against Razvan Cojanu
Hannah Peters/Getty Images
John Dillon8 November 2017

Anthony Joshua’s next fight will be against rival heavyweight champion Joseph Parker next spring, according to the Kiwi’s manager.

The claim fits in with the plans of Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, to stage a collision with American WBC belt holder Deontay Wilder later next year – should he defeat Parker.

David Higgins, manager of WBO title holder Parker, said in Auckland that Hearn had indicated to him that he wished to discuss a deal for next March or April.

“Eddie Hearn and I have exchanged e-mails,” Higgins said. “My message was that Joe would fight Joshua next – and Hearn’s message was that Joshua would fight Parker next.

“It is now a question of the deal and the money.”

"What we're saying is that Joseph Parker and Anthony Joshua have signalled that they will potentially fight next, as in March or April,"

"Our message to the Joshua camp is yes, we will take the fight. But the deal has to respect Joseph having earnt a genuine world title.

"The starting point for negotiations is obviously 50/50 but we would acknowledge that Joshua, if the fight were to happen in his home nation, he has a big fan base there.”

Parker, 25, is undefeated in 24 fights. But his most recent win was a laboured majority decision win over Britain’s Hughie Fury in Manchester in September.

In Pictures | Anthony Joshua's professional fights

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Londoner Joshua, 28, holds the WBA and IBF titles.

"I want to fight Joshua. He has got two belts and I want to test his chin and put on a great show," Parker said.

Parker’s trainer Kevin Barry insisted that Joshua’s 10-round stoppage of Carlos Takam in Cardiff last month had exposed his shortcomings.

Barry said: "That Takam fight has put everything in perspective. Takam had done no sparring. He tested Joshua right to the end.

“We all saw that Joshua could not hurt Takam. That showed me he is beatable. He can’t knock you out with one punch. He is robotic.”

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