By Scott Gilfoid: Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn says his fighter is the ‘Willy Wonka’ of the division, and that the other fighters see him as the ‘Golden ticket’ for a big payday.
Joseph Parker
Joshua says Parker is realistic in negotiations
By Marcus Richardson: Anthony Joshua says WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) is being realistic in their negotiations for a fight in early 2018, more realistic than Deontay Wilder, the WBC belt holder, who wants an even split of the revenue for a fight with Joshua at 50-50, and that’s a non-starter for AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn. They feel that Wilder isn’t worth the 50-50 split.
Joshua vs. Parker could be finalized this week
By Marcus Richardson: The unification fight between IBF/WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and WBO champion Joseph Parker could be done this week. Parker, 25, says they’re close to having the Joshua fight done for early 2018.
Wladimir Klitschko thinks Joshua can unify heavyweight division
By Scott Gilfoid: Former heavyweight unified world champion Wladimir Klitschko believes IBF/WBA champion Anthony Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs) has got the talent to unify the heavyweight division by capturing the last remaining 2 titles not in his possession at this time with the WBC and WBO belts.
Hearn: Parker’s demands are unrealistic for Joshua fight
By Scott Gilfoid: Promoter Eddie Hearn is still unhappy with WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker’s asking price for his revenue split for the unification fight against Anthony Joshua in early 2018.
Arum says Joshua-Parker fight “very close” to being finalized for Mar.31
By Tim Royner: Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is saying the heavyweight unification fight between Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker is “very close” to being finalized for March 31 in the UK. Arum sees the split being 66.6/33.3 rather than 70-30 split Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn are asking for.
ESPN says Joshua vs. Parker to be finalized “soon”
By Tim Royner: The unification fight between IBF/WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and WBO champion Joseph Parker will “soon” be finalized.
Whyte ready to face Joshua as Plan-B option
By Scott Gilfoid: Dillian Whyte (22-1, 16 KOs) says he’s ready to step in for WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) as the opponent for IBF/WBA champion Anthony Joshua’s next fight in early 2018.
Parker says to Joshua: 65 percent and rematch not enough to unify?
By Marcus Richardson: WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker is looking to shame IBF/WBA champion Anthony Joshua into agreeing to his 35-65 offer for a unification fight in early 2018. Parker wants 35 percent of the money for a fight with AJ, but thus far he’s had no luck in getting him and his promoter Eddie Hearn to agree to it.
Povetkin is making choice on which mandatory to take – WBO or WBA
By Jeff Aranow: Promoter Eddie Hearn says former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin is currently deciding whether to fight for the mandatory position for the WBA or WBO heavyweight titles. If Povetkin fights for the WBA mandatory spot, he could set himself up for a fight against either WBA ‘regular’ champion Manuel Charr or WBA Super World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.