Tuesday 5 December 2017 16:02, UK
Joseph Parker's promoter says talks for the Anthony Joshua fight are in deadlock as he believes the British champion is "refusing to compromise".
WBA 'super' and IBF title holder Joshua had been edging closer to a heavyweight unification clash with WBO king Parker and his promoter Eddie Hearn suggested a deal could be reached within two weeks.
But David Higgins of Duco Events, Parker's promotional team, has accused Joshua of failing to soften his stance after they offered to take a 35-65 split in favour of 'AJ'.
"We started at what we thought was a fair ratio, and then a concession was given on our side," Higgins told Sky Sports.
"The truth is we were getting pretty close, and then there was talk of me going to London, but I made it clear I won't unless there was a concession on the Joshua side.
As it stands, AJ is refusing to compromise and has drawn a line in the sand that we think is unreasonable. It's not worth me coming to London.
"Frankly we thought there would be, but no, it's been signalled there won't be. As far as we're concerned, that's it for now. I won't be boarding a plane until we are closer."
Asked about a possible resolution, Higgins added: "As it stands, AJ is refusing to compromise and has drawn a line in the sand that we think is unreasonable. It's not worth me coming to London."
Higgins challenged Joshua to back up this statement by agreeing terms to face a fellow champion.
"If Anthony says he wants to be the Roger Federer of boxing, can you imagine Roger Federer saying I want to win all the Grand Slams, but I won't play Wimbledon unless I get an extra three per cent?" he said.
"Can you imagine Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis dodging unification because 65 per cent of profit is not enough?
"Joshua, if he wants to be taken seriously, and he wants to put himself in the same sentence as Ali or George Foreman or Federer, has to prove he's a man of his word, and to date he's all hot air. We're losing patience."
