Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker have finally agreed a purse split to bring their fight a step closer, according to reports.
WBA, IBO, and IBF world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has made it clear that he wants to unify the division.
Parker currently holds the WBO title that Anthony Joshua covets, and it has seemed inevitable that the two would face each other, but there has been a very public struggle to negotiate how the fight purse would be divided.
Team Parker were firm on a minimum share of 35 percent, something that Team AJ were not willing to give during the early stages of the negotiations.
Parker has now received a contractual offer from Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn, with Parker’s share of the purse set to be between 30 and 35 percent.
Parker's promoter has confirmed the fact that the purse will be around 30-35% for the New Zealander.
"We're really, really close," he said.
“We've agreed the ratio. The Joshua side gave a small concession, and we've agreed that the Parker side will get somewhere between 30 and 35 per cent."
The fight is now likely to take place in March or April next year, likely to be held in the UK with Manchester, London, and Cardiff all in the running.
Joshua’s last fight in London was the unforgettable bout with Wladimir Kiltschko at the 02 Arena. Joshua was initially knocked down, but came back to finish his opponent in style, knocking him out in the 11th round.
However, Cardiff may also be a strong contender given the Principality Stadium's larger capacity, which previously saw Joshua beat his last opponent Carlos Takam with a controversial stoppage in the 10th round.
With this bout likely to take place in March or April, 2018 is shaping up to be an exciting year in the heavyweight division.
Joshua will be hoping to get through this fight before looking to take on WBC belt holder Deontay Wilder to unify the division.
But, with David Haye, Tony Bellew, Dillian Whyte, and a rejuvenated Tyson Fury, there will be a lot of fighters looking to take Joshua’s titles from him.