Hearn says Joshua-Parker unification is inching closer

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn seems optimistic that he can close a deal for a heavyweight title unification bout between Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker, but he’s not going to let it drag out for too much longer.

In an interview with Sky Sports the promoter says that the sides are closing in on a deal, with the fighters only a few percentage points apart on a agreeing to a purse split. Hearn believes, however, that they’ll be able to hash that out within the next week or so, but if the sides can’t come to terms within the next two weeks, Hearn says he’ll focus his attention elsewhere.

"We may look at a WBA mandatory, Dillian Whyte or going to the States to fight Jarrell Miller," Hearn said. "There are options but the aim is to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion.

"Parker is the frontrunner, he's the guy we want. But we can't be in a position where this goes on for three weeks then falls through.

"We've got two weeks until we need to start making offers to other fighters, apart from Parker.”

The signs seem to point to Joshua-Parker actually coming together though because both Hearn, who represents Joshua, and David Higgins, who represents Parker, have been publicly throwing around potential venues for the fight — the lastest being Barcelona’s Nou Camp, which can hold roughly 100,000.