Anthony Joshua

Wladimir Klitschko backs Anthony Joshua to beat Joseph Parker

Klitschko, who retired after being knocked out by Joshua in their April fight at Wembley, says he is comfortable with his decision to step away from the boxing ring and believes Joshua is the fighter to carry the glamour division forward.

"I have passed the torch to the younger lion," Klitschko told The Sun.

"I wish, from the bottom of my heart, he continues to carry this torch for a long time and is very successful just like I was. Joshua is capable of unifying the division, absolutely."

Joseph Parker: How I can beat Anthony Joshua

WBO champion Parker is in negotiations with IBF and WBA champion Anthony Joshua for a blockbuster bout in Britain in late March.

Talks have been long and difficult but Parker says they are now "very close" to making the fight a reality.

Parker is already working on a game plan and laying the foundations with his current fitness camp in Auckland where weight loss is a key as he tries to regain the speed that set him apart. 

Anthony Joshua ready to overpay Parker

Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn finally seems willing to concede some terms to Team Parker to get the fight done, confirming Cardiff's 78,000 seater Principality Stadium is the most likely venue for March.

"We're close," Hearn told Sky Sports UK. "We're at a stage now where we're having to compromise on certain points that we don't really want to, but ultimately we're going to have to because if you want to fight Anthony Joshua, these guys - they want to be overpaid.

Joshua-Parker fight close

WBA and IBF heavyweight champion Joshua is poised for a blockbuster 2018, with bouts against WBO title-holder Parker, WBC king Deontay Wilder and the unbeaten Tyson Fury all potentially in the offing.

Parker looks set to be Joshua's next opponent in a unification clash, though negotiations have not gone entirely smoothly, with the Briton's camp angered by a media conference staged by the 25-year-old and his team.

Promoter David Higgins, Parker and his trainer Kevin Barry explained why he would defeat the owner of the WBA and IBF straps, who they dubbed 'Glass Jaw Joshua'.

50-50 or we don't fight - Wilder wants split Joshua purse

WBA and IBF heavyweight champion Joshua is 20-0, all by knockout, following his win over Carlos Takam in Cardiff in October.

Last month, Wilder retained his WBC crown by flooring Bermane Stiverne in the first round to move to 39-0, and Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn reportedly held talks with the American's representatives about a potential meeting next year.

Joseph Parker, the WBO champ, is also in the mix for a unification bout with Joshua in 2018, and the New Zealander is happy to settle for a 35 per cent share of profits - a notion Wilder will not entertain.

Parker offers AJ rematch clause

WBO champion Parker is eager to fight IBF and WBA champion Joshua next, looking to set up a bout in the UK in March.

Parker kept up his relentless pressure on the big Brit with another tweet highlighting what he sees as a susceptibility in Joshua's chin.

"Doesn't a 65-35 per cent between two unbeaten champions sound fair? Nearly double our share. Don't worry, a rematch clause is there in case you're worried about your chin," Parker taunted in his latest social media post.

Parker news conference unprofessional, says Joshua

Parker's promotional company Duco Events held a news conference on Tuesday in Auckland, where they played a compilation of Joshua being sent to the canvas.

Duco founder and director David Higgins demanded Parker should have no less than a 35 per cent split of the purse from a fight with Joshua, with March having been mentioned as a potential date for a meeting between the two.

Higgins, WBO champion Parker and his trainer Kevin Barry offered explanations why he would defeat WBA and IBF champion Joshua, who they dubbed 'Glass Jaw Joshua'.

Hearn: Come test AJ's chin

Eddie Hearn won't give Joseph Parker his desired 35 per cent of a fight purse, but says a unification bout deal with Anthony Joshua is close.

Parker's promoter David Higgins insisted that a 35 per cent cut was their final offer to Joshua's boss Hearn as they called out the IBF and WBA champion, accusing him of having a "glass chin".

While Hearn appeared bemused by the promotional video that featured Joshua being knocked to the canvas by a series of opponents, it seems to have helped the cause of gaining his attention and that of the UK boxing market.

AJ soft like England football - Team Parker

Higgins will on Wednesday outline the latest developments in negotiations for a unification fight between WBO champion Parker and Joshua, who holds the IBF and WBA belts.

Team Parker will also continue their claims around Joshua's supposed "glass jaw" and plan to produce video evidence of him being repeatedly taken to the canvas.

"There is a lot of hype and glamour. But we believe Joshua will fold at unification level like England fail to reach World Cup finals," Higgins told the Daily Mail.

Joseph Parker willing to take 35 per cent to fight Anthony Joshua

Promoters for WBO champion Parker and IBF and WBA champion Joshua are in increasingly serious negotiations about a unification fight early next year.

They finally seem to be finding some common ground. Parker's boss at Duco Events David Higgins started with a hardline demand of 50 per cent of what could be a massive pay-day and brought that down to 40 per cent. Parker appears ready to compromise even further to try to seal the deal.