As fight week rapidly approaches, the tension between the camps of Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker shows little sign of thawing - with an email between the pair's promoters proving the latest bone of contention.

WBA and IBF champion Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs) meets WBO champion Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) next Saturday at Cardiff's Principality Stadium in the first-ever heavyweight championship unification fight between two unbeaten champions to be held in Britain.

The contest was eventually announced back in January following lengthy negotiations between Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn and Parker's representative David Higgins.

As would be expected in the build-up to such a big event, Hearn and Higgins have been in regular contact regarding arrangements for next week's promotional activities - and Hearn has revealed that his chief charge was angered when told of an email from Parker's promoter predicting that Joshua would suffer a comprehensive defeat.

"I just told Anthony that he basically said you are going to get knocked spark out," Hearn told Sky Sports, to which Joshua responded: 'Okay, let's hear it next Tuesday then at the press conference.'

 

Hearn then invited Team Parker to repeat their prediction when face-to-face with Joshua when all parties are together at next week's first pre-fight press conference.

"I'm giving him notice and I'm saying next Tuesday we want to hear it, from you and Joseph Parker."

Back in November last year, Higgins and Parker hosted a bizarre press conference in New Zealand, in which they goaded Joshua with footage of him absorbing punches during both his amateur and professional career, hoping to secure a fight with the Londoner. Hearn hopes that the pair continue to be as bold with their words next week.

"You cannot say all this stuff in the build-up to get the fight and when the deal is done, go quiet," said Hearn, alluding to the fact that Team Parker were far more respectful when both men met at a press conference to initially promote the fight in January.

"Parker and his team believe 100 per cent they are going to knock Anthony Joshua out and he's been exactly the same. There is a nice little mix there between him and me, and what I did was filled Anthony in on something that Mr Higgins has said, and I think it's added a little bit of spite," said Hearn of his decision to share the contents of Higgins' email with Joshua.

"They are on notice," Hearn warned. "I want you to look in the eyes of Anthony Joshua and tell him what you truly believe will happen in this fight."

Higgins was the centre of attention during the first press conference for Parker's last title defence against Hughie Fury, as he was ejected following a clash with Hughie's trainer Peter Fury in Manchester last September.

Whilst fans are certainly eagerly anticipating the Joshua vs Parker fight, the pre-fight festivities promise to have their own intrigue following Hearn's revelations.