Anthony Joshua receives latest challenge from Joseph Parker
Monday 25 January 2016 18:22, UK
Unbeaten heavyweight Joseph Parker wants Anthony Joshua - but Eddie Hearn has warned the New Zealander there's a whole host of other fighters calling out the Olympic champion.
Parker moved to 18-0-KO16 with an eighth-round stoppage of Jason Bergman on January 23 - and his promoter Dean Lonergan subsequently suggested counterpart Hearn is shunning their attempts to arrange a clash with Joshua (15-0-KO15).
In an interview reported on fightnews.com, Lonergan said: "We desperately want to fight Joshua, we've put challenges to him.
"I was in England two months ago, I was trying to get a meeting through my boxing connections who know the Hearn camp intimately. Eddie Hearn turned me down flat."
I was trying to get a meeting through my boxing connections who know the Hearn camp intimately. Eddie Hearn turned me down flat.
But Hearn was quick to play down the situation and highlight the demand for divisional "money man" Joshua, telling Sky Sports: "I might have got an email saying he was in town and I don't think I was in town.
"In the last three days, I've counted probably six or seven fighters who've mentioned AJ or called him out. David Haye, Tyson Fury, Dereck Chisora, Malik Scott, Dillian Whyte, Joseph Parker. The list goes on and on.
"The Parker fight is a fight that can happen as long as he keeps winning. With respect, the level of opponents he has fought hasn't been up to the standard of Joshua's but I rate Parker. I think it's a good fight.
"I don't think anybody knows who Parker is over here outside of the hardcore boxing fraternity but in time, they will. I don't think Parker really wants AJ now because I think it's too early for him.
"Everybody is targeting Joshua because he's the money man of the division. It's great news. They'll all get their chance. They'll all get their shot. It's just that we can't fight nine people on the same night."
British and Commonwealth champion Joshua was last in action in December when he recovered from a second-round wobble to record a thrilling seventh-round stoppage of Dillian Whyte.
