Anthony Joshua certainly sounds frustrated that a deal has yet to be done with Joseph Parker.
Joshua is keen to add the WBC and WBO heavyweight titles to his already impressive collection of belts in 2018 and Parker will almost certainly be the next opponent for ‘AJ’ but the Kiwi’s camp is refusing to budge on their requested purse split for the unification bout.
Parker’s promoter David Higgins is holding out for a 65-35 split and Joshua has revealed that he feels like he’s in unfamiliar territory as money is getting in the way of the fight being made.
“This is the first time in my career where the talk has been about money,” Joshua told the BBC. “That’s what’s holding it up.
“With Klitschko it wasn’t about the money, it was about getting the fight together for the belts. With Parker it’s a different story, and Wilder.
“No disrespect for them, they have their reasons, but I feel like the fans are not getting what they want.
“It would have been great to have it pencilled in now but it will happen in the future once they come to their senses.
“What they are offering is nothing, and what we are offering is 10 times better than what they can bring up themselves.”
Parker kick-started the trash talk with Joshua last month by putting together a montage of the times that the undefeated Brit had been wobbled in the ring and offered £20,000 if any fan was able to find footage of Parker in trouble.
In response to the press conference at which Parker released the above video, Joshua also accused the New Zealander of trying to “demonise” his accomplishments and explained how he simply doesn’t understand the need to speak ill of opponents.
“I think it’s not nice, I don’t really respect it and I have no time for it,” Joshua said.
“What’s he trying? Be the big bully? Demonise everything I have done?
“In Formula 1, golf, tennis, rugby, they are very classy people, respectable about their peers.
“Then you have people like Joseph Parker holding a press conference talking about everything he thinks I am.”
