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Hearn Wants Joshua vs. Parker Unification By Mid-2018

Eddie Hearn, promoter for IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs), would like to see his boxer have a unification with WBO champion Joseph Parker (23-0, 18 KOs) by the middle of next year.
Both boxers have upcoming assignments to deal with, which prevents their fight from taking place this year.
Joshua will return in the fall, either in a rematch against Wladimir Klitschko and or an IBF mandatory defense against Kubrat Pulev. Parker has a title defense against undefeated Hughie Fury on September 23 in Manchester.

If all goes well, Hearn wants to get the two champions in the ring on a date by the midway point of 2018.
"From an Anthony Joshua promoter's point of view, we've got the Wladimir Klitschko fight, we've also got a mandatory with Pulev but we want Parker [in the] spring/summer of next year. We want to try and add another belt to the bow," Hearn told Sky Sports.
Hearn expects Parker to defeat Fury. If that happens, then Hearn would like to see Parker face Tony Bellew or Dillian Whyte - which Hearn views as perfect choices to further build the Joshua showdown. Two British opponents in a row, says Hearn, would make the Joshua fight a more lucrative opportunity for both sides.

"It's a fight, I think if it happens, they should win and then I would stay here [in the UK] to be honest with you. I would try and knock off all the guys that would make my profile so significant that the Anthony Joshua fight becomes a huge UK and worldwide event," Hearn said.
"Certainly victories over Hughie Fury and Tony Bellew or Dillian Whyte would put Joseph in a brilliant position to earn a lot, a lot of money in the Anthony Joshua fight and put him in a position where that fight is a necessity rather than a potential fight."

Joseph Parker's trainer Kevin Barry reveals toll taken by Duco split

Joseph Parker will be back at 100 per cent for his UK debut, says trainer Kevin Barry.

Joseph Parker's trainer has revealed he was so concerned about the Kiwi boxer's mindset in the lead-up to his last fight that he offered him the chance to back out, vowing that the world heavyweight champion would be back to his aggressive best in his UK debut against Hughie Fury.

Kevin Barry's comments came after Parker's handlers were forced to deny a fired-up Fury's claims that they were already looking past their looming WBO title fight by holding meetings with promoter Eddie Hearn, who has several British heavyweights on his books.

Speaking in Manchester on Tuesday (Wednesday NZ Time), Barry said the split between Parker's Duco promoters David Higgins and Dean Lonergan had weighed heavily on Parker before an underwhelming first defence of his world title against Romanian Razvan Cojanu in May.

That fight was put together at the last minute after Fury withdrew because of a back injury, and Barry promised Parker would be more aggressive in hunting a knockout against Fury at Manchester Arena on September 23.

Joseph Parker and Hughie Fury are set to square off at last after their first bout was delayed, and later relocated to the UK.

"We had a lot of things going on at the time (of the Cojanu fight)," Barry said.

"There were some problems with our promotional company... and it was sort of weighing down on Joe a bit. In fact, there were a couple of times I even asked him if he wanted to pull out of the fight, because I wasn't sure if his head was 100 per cent in it.

"We all, as a team, know Joe is so much better than that. We're going to change things up a little bit for this fight. We're going to be a lot more aggressive. We'll go back to the Joseph Parker that was fighting two years ago."

Trainer Kevin Barry offered Joseph Parker the chance to pull out of his last fight when a split between promoters Duco Events affected his mindset.

Barry made the revelations after a press conference in Manchester, in which both fighters' camps appeared to have put any ill feeling caused by Fury's earlier withdrawal behind them.

But Hughie Fury briefly turned hostile, directing his anger firstly at Duco, before turning on Hearn.

Tyson Fury's experience as a world champion could prove valuable when he takes his place in cousin Hughie Fury's corner in September.

"(Duco) are already going on meetings with what's his name, Eddie Hearn, and arranging fights," Fury said.

"I'll tell you this, I would take me completely seriously because I am coming for (Parker's) belt.

"To Eddie Hearn, that cockroach, because that's what you are, you and your big stiff fighter (Anthony Joshua), I'm coming for you next.

"When I get (Parker's) belt, me and Tyson is unifying this division together."

Duco boss David Higgins quickly shot down suggestions his company was disrespecting Fury, insisting his meeting with Hearn was "just making the most of the massive airfares we paid to get up here".

"Boxer and trainer are fully focused on the fight in front of them, but the promoter's job is to scan ahead for all eventualities," Higgins said.

A relaxed Parker spent much of the press conference laughing and smiling, and declared afterwards he was ready to make a splash in the UK market.

The south Auckland product has no shortage of suitors lining up for a shot at his world title should he defeat Fury, with Dillian Whyte already confronting him in London to make his interest known.

Anthony Joshua, who holds the IBF, WBA (Super) and and IBO world heavyweight titles, looms as a logical opponent and Hearn, Joshua's promoter, has already spoken about a potential unification bout at London's Wembley Stadium in the next English summer.

With so many potential fights on the table in the UK, Parker acknowledged it was important not just to win, but to look good doing it.

He faced widespread criticism from the British press after his win over Cojanu, but he expected Fury to take more chances and open himself up.

"I need to come here and make a statement because this is where the heavyweights are and I want to be part of this scene," Parker said.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of fighting Hughie and what he brings, but I'm also looking forward to the challenge of fighting overseas, in front of his crowd, and seeing if I can adapt."

Parker said Fury was just as formidable as any current British fighter.

"Obviously Anthony (Joshua)'s at the top because he's got the belt, but I see him right up the top too," Parker said.

"He's got a great team behind him, with a great coach in Peter Fury, who helped Tyson (Fury) beat (Wladimir) Klitschko.

"I think it will give him a lot of confidence having them in his corner, with what they've been through."

- Stuff

Just saw it. Thanks NakiFan!!! A bit subdued with the Fury's though. No fireworks.

David Haye article was interesting. Keeping Parker sweet so he can get a deal done to face his new signing Joe Joyce in 18 months time in my opinion (if Parker is still wbo champ by then).

Kiwi heavyweight champion Joseph Parker misses drug test - WBC
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/94840393/kiwi-heavyweight-champion-joseph-parker-misses-drug-test--wbc

See, the Fury's are messing with his head. He doesn't know where he is. Vegas, Samoa, who knows...