Contrary to reports that a deal may have been agreed between the camps of Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker for a reunification bout to be held sometime in March, 2017, Promoter Eddie Hearn says the deal is yet to be finalized. Hearn who spoke to Sky Sports expressed optimism that a deal would be agreed soon.
According to Sky Sports, negotiations are still ongoing for Joshua to put his WBA 'super' and IBF heavyweight titles on the line against WBO champion Parker, with the New Zealander's promoter David Higgins expected to arrive in London next week to thrash out the remaining details on the contract.
Higgins according to the report had suggested that Joshua agreed for Parker to receive a split "between 30 and 35 per cent", but Hearn says there are still terms to be confirmed for the fight, which could be staged in March or April.
"We are working hard to try and finalise the deal and are very hopeful. There is no fight until the contract is signed. Either way, AJ's next fight will be announced in early 2018."
Speaking on the bout, Higgins said;
"In my view that fight has got a whole lot more realistic and it's as close as it's ever been between Joshua and Parker.
"The breakthrough being there has been a small compromise on both sides and we finally agreed the purse split ratio. That I believe is the most important hurdle to agreeing a fight of this magnitude. Both camps are now happy with the ratio they are receiving.
"We've met somewhere between 30 and 35 per cent, but I haven't said it publicly. Eddie Hearn has sent me a contract based on the [Wladimir] Klitschko contract, and I'm going through it with my lawyer making changes, today, tomorrow, and I'll be getting it back to him. We're very close and there's a high chance I'll board a flight to London at the end of next week to try and finalise a deal."
