Eddie Hearn Tweeted today that, he's reached out to team Klitschko for the fight on November 26. This is as tasty as it gets and would have it over Josh Parker any day. That can wait. I'd love to see if AJ could handle the legend right now as Wlad isn't a spring chook obviously. In fact Fury Wlad would most probably be another borefest anyway, with a tedious decision either way the likely result. Parker vs winner next year - although if Wlad were to win, would the mandatory fight still be compulsory for early next year? Exciting times. ....
But Wlad doesn't have the belts. Fury does. Surely they can't strip him that quickly, agree to terms and sign the contracts all in a matter of days? Klit is a control freak I can't see him rushing it.
Exactly. It'll probably be Stiverne or Pulev after they get low balled by Hearn to take the money or lose the opportunity.
Eddie Hearn is full of rubbish. Probably end up with Eric Molina so he can knock him out early and then they can spin some crap about knocking him out quicker than Wilder to keep Joshua's millions of casual fans excited. If not Molina, probably Jarrell Miller.
Positive talks with Wladimir Klitschko have Joseph Parker heading back to an undercard role on Anthony Joshua's world title fight night
Wladimir Klitschko is ready and eager for action, making the former world champion a juicy prospect for Anthony Joshua, especially if the WBA belt can be freed up to be put in the mix.
Joseph Parker has slipped into a fallback option for Anthony Joshua's next world title fight with promoter Eddie Hearn making progress in lining up former champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Hearn had hoped on Tuesday (NZ time) to announce Joshua's next opponent for November's IBF title fight in Manchester, but the clouded scene has prevented that.
Now Hearn wants to sort out the fight details "this week" and is working overtime to achieve that.
Klitschko has suddenly come available after the postponement of his WBA and WBO rematch with champion Tyson Fury, who has pulled out as he battles mental health issues.
Parker is a convenient alternative for Hearn because of his mandatory rights.
But Hearn wants to push on with a lucrative clash against Klitschko, making progress in talks with the Ukrainian's handlers and believing it could be possible to make it a unification bout with the IBF and WBA belts up for grabs.
Hearns believes Fury will be stripped of his belts and the legal issues could be cleared in time to set up a clash against Klitschko in the north of England on November 26.
That would see Parker revert to an undercard fight against Briton David Price as originally planned, something that won't disappoint his handlers Duco Events, allowing them more time to polish Parker for his crack at the crown early next year.
Asked by Sky Sports UK if he felt Fury would be stripped of his belts, Hearn said: "Yes, I do [think Fury will be stripped]. It's been nearly a year since he's boxed. The governing bodies want that belt to be active so over the next couple of weeks, the contenders will be putting pressure on the governing bodies."
Hearn said he didn't expect "much compassion" from the governing bodies for Fury. "I think they'll move on, put the champion in recess and move forward with the belts."
"Screw it." Wladimir Klitschko responds to news Tyson Fury has pulled out of their world heavyweight title rematch.
Hearn has been pleased with progress with Klitschko's manager Berndt Hearn over the past few days which would explain the lack of firm action in the direction of Parker's handlers.
"This is a huge fight. I believe Klitschko against Joshua is a favourite for 26 November," Hearn said in the latest British reports that were also covered by The Guardian.
"This is a deal that would move very quickly. It has to, if we're going to strike. I would like to get everything sewn up by the end of this week in terms of who Anthony Joshua is fighting next.
"It's a natural fight. On Saturday, we reached out to Berndt Boente and since then we've had a couple of positive conversations and it's a fight he really wants.
"I was with Anthony this morning in the gym. It's the fight he really wants.
"If the WBA belt is on the line, which I believe it would be, then it's a unification fight between Joshua and Klitschko. The deal has got to be right, of course.
"We've got Joseph Parker as a mandatory which is also a good fight if Klitschko doesn't happen.
"I'm confident. I don't want to get the fans too excited about the fight but I know Anthony wants the fight and Klitschko is up for it as well. It's likely to be Klitschko against someone for the WBA title so the Joshua fight is very exciting."
Parker, meanwhile, fights giant Russian Alexander Dimitrenko in Manukau on Saturday night, needing a win to retain his mandatory rights and stay in the frame of an exciting phase of change in the heavyweight ranks.
- Stuff
Klitschko-Joshua won't happen, no way.