A deal is inching closer for a world title unification between WBO champion Joseph Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) and IBF, IBO, WBA champion Anthony Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs).
The fight would land on a date in late March or early April, in the UK.
For the last few weeks, the two sides have been trading words - mostly over the subject of money and whether or not Joshua has a suspect chin.
Parker, 25 years old, has been studying all of Joshua's fights and believes he has the perfect game plan to pull off the upset win.
He's long said that Joshua is way too muscular to deal with a good boxer who gives angles and uses movement - and Parker plans prove that to be true if they meet in the ring next year.
"Coming into the fight I will be a lot lighter. I think angles ... angles and speed. Joshua is a big guy with a lot of power who comes forward and chase you down, but if I give him angles and movement it will give him a bit of trouble so that's what I'm looking to do," Parker told T2T Boxing.
"The fight with Joshua is very close. We've had a bit of a pause as we find middle ground where both teams are happy. But I think we've come to a conclusion ... we're just going to tidy things up, lock it in and get the fight going. We want to lock something in before Christmas, so we can all have a holiday and enjoy it and then hit camp."
Parker also noted that his comments about Joshua, in interviews and on social media, is not because he has anything personal against the British star.
"It's a bit of banter, it's a bit of fun. I've said many times I respect him as a fighter and I respect him as a champion and I look forward to when we clash ... I think it's going to be a great fight," Parker said.
