Veteran boxing promoter Bob Arum claims Anthony Joshua is "very, very close" to finalising a deal to fight Joseph Parker in Cardiff on March 31.
Speaking to Andrew Gourdie and Jim Kayes on RadioLIVE, Arum said the Kiwi's promotional team had ironed out its differences with Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn and the two are now on the brink of securing a fight date at Principality Stadium.
The Top Rank boss believes Parker has an excellent chance of toppling the Briton and adding the IBF and WBA straps to the WBO heavyweight title he already carries.
"I think Parker has the kind of style that can beat Joshua because Joshua's chin is very, very suspect," Arum said.
"And one thing about Parker, he may not be the greatest boxer in the world, but he has a cast iron chin and he'll give Joshua hell.
"Andy's a hell of a puncher and Andy hit him with a lot of good punches and didn't miss and Parker didn't even blink."
Negotiations had seemingly stalled with Hearn refusing to yield on Duco CEO David Higgins' demands of a 65/35 revenue split.
"They're playing a game now over a couple of points," Arum said.
"I'll be getting together with David Higgins and we're going to figure out how we finalise this thing with Eddie Hearn.
"But I'm confident that we'll get it closed next week."
Joshua fought at the same venue in October against Carlos Takam and Hearn has repeatedly insisted the IBF and WBA (Super) heavyweight champion is too much of a draw to fight indoors again.
The Englishman spoke out against perceived under-handed tactics by Parker's camp on Saturday (NZT), taking exception to Higgins playing videos of the Olympian being floored in both training an amateur fights at a recent press conference.
"I think it's not nice, I don't really respect it and I have no time for it," Joshua told BBC Sport. "What's he trying? Be the big bully? Demonise everything I have done?"
The winner of a potential bout between the two would likely go on to fight WBC champion Deontay Wilder in a bid to unify all four heavyweight titles.
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