'The offer was very low': Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker unlikely to happen in 2018 says promoter
KEY POINTS
- The two unbeaten heavyweights were expected to unify their belts in the new year.
- David Higgins, however, reveals the offer from Joshua's camp was not good enough.
A potential title unification bout between WBA and IBF champion Anthony Joshua and WBO champion Joseph Parker is not happening in 2018 anymore, according to the latter's promoter.
Following his title defence against Carlos Takam on 28 October, Joshua called out the likes of fellow unbeaten heavyweight strap-holders Deontay Wilder and Parker as he hopes to become the first heavyweight champion to hold four belts.
The Briton's promoter Eddie Hearn has since been in discussions with Wilder and Parker's promoters over a title fight in the upcoming year.
However, David Higgins, who promotes Parker, claims the New Zealander will not be fighting Joshua anymore after they received a "very low" offer from Hearn.
"Our position at the moment is that it's not [happening in 2018]," Higgins told ESPN. "The offer was very low. We've got other options which are more money and we are in the process of looking at them."
"We're getting higher offers to fight people in other parts of the world. We are in a point now where we think Joshua won't be next and that we will have to ride it out until common sense prevails."
While it is not clear what the exact offer is, Higgins revealed that it included "AJ" receiving the entire gate, pay-per-view and sponsorships.
Parker's camp, however, feel they are fair in asking for a 60-40 split which would still see Joshua make more than the 25-year-old.
"Our business when we put fights together, like when we put together the Jeff Horn vs. Manny Pacquiao fight, is to secure government and city investment," Higgins explained.
"Similar to a fight like Parker vs Joshua as it will bring in tens of thousands of fans and lots of visitors. The number that Eddie Hearn offered us is less than what we have secured from city and governments for previous boxing events.
"Assuming you would get city and government on board, effectively Joshua is trying to take all of the gate, all the pay-per-view and all the sponsorship and pay us less than the city investment value. We think 60-40 [split in favour of Joshua] is our bottom line.
"We will cop some criticism for taking a firm stance but morally we believe it's right and fair to have a 60-40 split."
Parker last fought to a majority decision win over Hughie Fury in September and was notably not impressed with Joshua's performance against Takam last month.
