It's looking increasingly likely that Joseph Parker will be Anthony Joshua's next opponent.
After Joshua made it 20 professional wins from 20 with a TKO win over Carlos Takam at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff in October, a number of bouts were touted for what promises to be an exciting 2018 for the WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight champion.
WBO champion Joseph Parker, also undefeated, is seen as one of the most appealing and after promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed an announcement was close, Parker's man Bob Arum says it's more or less a done deal.
Speaking to the LA Times, he said:
"We're very, very close, It's going to happen. I give (Parker) a good chance. I think Joshua is a really good, exciting fighter with a great marquee and everything, and he's very ballsy, but I don't think he has a good chin.
"I really think his chin is suspect. And I think that Parker, who may not be the greatest boxer in the world, has a chin like iron. And I think he'll stay in there with Joshua and he could knock Joshua out, I really believe that. And I think the same thing about Wilder. I think Wilder could knock Joshua out."
The main issue which has delayed an official announcement has been the disagreements over the share of the money from the unification fight but that looks to be getting ironed out.
"It seems to me with a little tugging and so forth, they can do 2/3 and 1/3 and that's what I think is going to happen," Arum added.
78,000 packed into the Principality Stadium a few months back to see Joshua's latest defence and after Hearn admitted the venue is the frontrunner for the next big heavyweight bout, Arum said that Joshua-Parker will take place in the Welsh capital.
Image: PA
He also believes 31 March will be the date when fight fans will see the two undefeated world champions slug it out.
Parker or AJ? Who will come on top?
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Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Joseph Parker, Anthony Joshua, Boxing
