Eddie Hearn will have to up his offer if he is to secure Anthony Joshua a shot at that WBO heavyweight title next.
In an ideal world, Joshua is hoping to unify the division in 2018 by adding the WBO and WBC belts to his collection but, in order to get his hands on Joseph Parker, Joshua’s camp must agree to some wiggle room on their purse split.
Realistically, Joshua is looking at either Parker or Deontay Wilder for his next outing and his trainer, Robert McCracken, hopes to take the New Zealander out first before ‘AJ’ turns his gaze to the outspoken Wilder.
“I think both are winnable fights for Anthony,” McCracken said, via BoxingScene.
“I’d say Parker and Wilder in that order because it will be a bigger fight with Wilder down the road than it is now.”
And, apparently, the wheels are in motion to get the Parker fight made.
According to the undefeated Kiwi’s promoter David Higgins, Hearn has already been in touch with an offer for the fight but Parker’s camp are not happy with the figures being touted.
“I think Eddie is offering [Parker] 20 percent [of the purse] to kill the fight because he’s worried his golden goose might get beaten,” Higgins told ESPN. “I think he’s offering that on purpose so he can go in another direction.
“He knows that we won’t take 20 percent. It’s an insult.”
Joshua is understandably going to be the A-side for any fights in the foreseeable future and that translates to him receiving the lion’s share of the purse as most viewers are tuning in to watch him, rather than his rivals.
A headbutt damaged Joshua's nose badly in the second round https://t.co/1sIvm6svr6
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) October 29, 2017
But Parker’s promoter is adamant that Hearn is expecting too far too much with his offer and that some compromising will have to be done if Joshua vs. Parker is to become a reality.
“I’m not saying a 50-50 split as we think Joshua deserves a bit more, but it certainly should be a more balanced ratio like that,” Higgins continued. “We reached out to Hearn and have had no response.
“The ball is in Eddie Hearn’s court. If he’s genuine about wanting to unify, stop being greedy.”
