Promoter Eddie Hearn has labelled Anthony Joshua the 'golden ticket' of the heavyweight division as talks intensify between the Brits and Joseph Parker's team.
Joshua and Parker are on a collision course to unify three of boxing's four marquee world titles in March. A deal is reportedly 'very close' to being finalised according to the Kiwi's American promoter Bob Arum.
Hearn, who has Joshua under his wing, backed up that statement from Arum while acknowledging they are likely to concede more than they want to in negotiations with the New Zealander.
The 38-year-old said his charge has one goal, to unify the titles, and to do that they have to give more than they feel is deserved.
Hearn said everyone wants to cash in on the popularity of the IBF and WBA champion, Joshua.
"My job is to represent Anthony Joshua and to deliver the deals that are right but we understand that we will probably have to overpay a guy like Joseph Parker to get that unification fight," Hearn said.
"We are at a stage now where we have to compromise when we don't really want to - but we have to.
"Joshua is the golden ticket fight that everybody wants. They want to get paid.
"We need these belts and Parker's team know that."
Hearn said while the a bout with WBC champion Deontay Wilder wasn't completely off the cards, but a shot at Parker's WBO title is more likely given Wilder's demands of a fifty-fifty purse split.
Parker's team, led by Duco boss David Higgins have demanded 35 percent.
A figure that Hearn doesn't agree with - but is far more realistic than what the American is asking for.
"Joshua wants to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world - to do that he needs to beat Joseph Parker and Deontay Wilder," Hearn said.
"The Wilder fight is in total dreamland at the moment with his (teams) demands but the Parker fight is very close."
Hearn said Wilder hasn't beaten anyone of note despite an impressive 39-0 record with 38 knockouts.
The boxing kingpin noting that the 32-year-old 'Bronze Bomber' has struggled to build his profile in the US, often failing to sell out small venues.
Hearn said Duco understand that a fight with Joshua is their one-shot at life-changing money but have set far-more realistic demands than Wilder's camp
The fight is likely to be in late March at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Newshub.
