Eddie Hearn, promoter for IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs), says WBC champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) is very unlikely to be their next opponent.
WBO champion Joseph Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) appears be ahead of the pack, at the moment. There are ongoing negotiations between Hearn and Parker's promoter, David Higgins of Duco Events, to get a deal done for the first quarter of next year.
“I can’t see us agreeing on a deal for Wilder fight. So it is more likely to be Parker. You’ve got WBA mandatories potentially a fight in the States,” Hearn told IFL TV.
And if the negotiations with Parker fall apart, then Hearn may consider staging a rematch between Joshua and heated rival Dillian Whyte - who fought in a fireworks filled fight in December of 2015.
“Maybe he fights Whyte. We need to look at all the contenders," Hearn said. “Joshua has asked me to deliver all the belts in 2018. So that is Wilder and Parker and that’s what we hope to achieve in the next fight maybe Tyson Fury could be in the mix!”
According to Higgins, their discussions with Hearn are becoming more positive.
“We’ve said all along that a 35-65 per cent was both fair - and our bottom line,” Higgins said.
"Now it seems that Eddie is pretty close to agreeing with us. That’s very encouraging.”
Hearn recently threw a few verbal jabs following Duco Events holding a media briefing in Auckland to illustrate Joshua’s habit of ending up on the canvas when being hit with power punches.
“Eddie’s video was great,” Higgins said. “He’s a really funny guy. He certainly scored a few points when making fun of us colonials down here in New Zealand, but the funniest part is where he still insists Joseph Parker isn’t worth the 35 percent we are demanding. Eddie’s having a laugh there and he knows it," Higgins said.