A heavyweight clash between Kiwi Joseph Parker and Brit Joe Joyce is inching closer, with the next few days looming as crucial for the deal.
The pair have been in lengthy negotiations, with Joyce’s promoter - Frank Warren - even prematurely announcing the fight last month, but Parker’s camp shut down any suggestion a deal had been reached.
Now, that deal is close, but with a few details still to be ironed out and other offers still on the table for Parker.
“There’s a lot of talk about a worldwide blockbuster fight against Joe Joyce, that would be WBO No.1 against WBO No.2, so it’s very attractive,” said Parker’s manager, David Higgins. "The winner would get a world title shot."
Parker won the WBO world title in 2016, beating Andy Ruiz, but lost it to Brit Anthony Joshua two years later.
A win against Joyce would make him the mandatory challenger to the belt, lining up a clash against the winner of Joshua and Oleksandr Usky, the current champion.
Joyce’s camp are asking for a three-fight contract, indicating they’re weary of the threat posed by Parker.
“We’re in final stage negotiations. The promoters want a multi-fight contract and so the devil's in the detail," said Higgins. "It’s very important that not just for the first fight, but for all three flights, the contractual terms are agreeable.
“We would have done a one-fight deal, but the fact they want a multi-fight deal suggests they rate Joseph Parker, they’re worried Joseph Parker will beat Joe Joyce and take that No.1 position.”
Higgins hopes the next few days will bring more clarity on the likelihood of the fight actually happening.
With the start of July earmarked as a potential date for the bout already, the clock’s also ticking to give both fighters time to prepare.
Higgins says Parker is already in great shape for the fight, after sparring with Tyson Fury in the build-up to his win over Dillian Whyte at Wembley last month.
With both fighters ready to go, the contracts just need to be agreed.
“I’d like to say we’re getting closer by the day, but it’s not done yet.”