British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua might want to fight kiwi Joseph Parker but it appears his handlers don't share his enthusiasm.
Joshua has called Parker out for a bout with both fighters having made significant progress up the heavyweight rankings in the past year.
Parker's promoter Dean Lonergan says he's tried to make the fight happen, but Joshua's team aren't as keen as he is.
"Fighters don't get to make the fights, promoters do. About three or four weeks ago my company put a challenge forward to the WBO," Lonergan said.
"We put it to Joshua's people they came back and said, flatly, no. We were very disappointed, we would take that fight in a heartbeat, Joshua's people are the ones who won't."
The 24-year-old Parker is actually ranked ahead of Joshua by respected boxing website boxrec.com. Parker is 11th, Joshua is 16th.
Parker's next fight will be in Christchurch in April, with Lonergan still working on nailing down an opponent.
Newshub.
