David Higgins, promoter of WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (24-0, 18 KOs), has exploded over the financial position of WBA, IBO, IBF world champion Anthony Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs).
According to Higgins, Joshua is refused to accept a 65-35 financial split in his favor, with a rematch clause, for a high stakes unification in the first quarter of 2018.
The two sides have been negotiating for several weeks.
Initially, Higgins wanted a 50-50 split - but then it dropped to 60-40 and now to 65-35 in an effort to make the fight happen - but the terms are not agreeable for the British star.
Higgins is now applying a lot of pressure on Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, to reach an agreement.
“Global heavyweight unifications happen once every ten years or less, the last undisputed champion was Lennox Lewis,” Higgins explained to talkSPORT.com.
“He [Joshua] is quoted as saying: ‘I’m not about the money’, but we’re offering a unification, we’re offering 65% and he doesn’t want to take the fight. We dropped from 50% to 40% to 35%, but then Joshua starts crowing about Federer, Nadal, Ali and Foreman.
“Sort your s*** out, Roger Federer didn’t quibble about percentages! The British fans are fooled. He shouldn’t mention Ali or Foreman. You think they would quibble over 35%? It’s embarrassing. We’ll give him a rematch clause and he won't take the fight, there is no excuse. 35% shows we’re confident. The fact he won’t accept that… he should be ashamed of himself.”
Parker was in action back in September, when he traveled to Manchester and won a twelve round unanimous decision over mandatory challenger Hughie Fury. Joshua saw action in October, when he stopped mandatory challenger Carlos Takam in the tenth round in Cardiff, Wales.
Parker has two alternatives in the wind. There is a big domestic fight, which is close to a deal, with Lucas Browne. And there is also the possibility of a mandatory with Alexander Povetkin, who next week faces Christian Hammer in a final eliminator.
