Just hours remain until the highly anticipated unification clash between two giants of heavyweight boxing.Anthony Joshua v Joseph Parker comes to fruition this evening as both fighters aim to end their rival’s undefeated streak.It is a common phenomenon to witness boxers exchanging banter and engaging in trash talk in the build up to the bout, but now, promoters Eddie Hearn and David Higgins have also gotten into the act.The two promoters of the respective fighters have had their fair share of verbal exchanges recently, which prompted Sky Sports to organise a special one-off segment involving the duo in The Gloves Are Off episode.The day before the showdown was no different, as during the weigh-ins, Hearn and Higgins were at it again, although there was also mutual respect for each other at the end.Duco Events’ Higgins has been far more vocal than Parker in the subject of the Kiwi’s chances in the mega fight, while Hearn has never backed off from the war of words.Higgins has challenged Hearn on several occasions, yet, it is the Matchroom chief who manages to have the last laugh in most scenarios.Joshua’s promoter Hearn pulled off the oldest trick of the book on Friday as he ridiculed Higgins live on stage in front of a packed crowd in Cardiff, making his rival promoter look silly.The 38-year-old Brit addressed the crowd at the Motorpoint Arena and started with a few compliments referring to Higgins before embarrassing him near the end.
He said: “This is a massive fight. I know you guys give my esteemed colleague a little bit of stick, he’s actually a good guy. But, you may not see that yet.“If anyone knows of any jobs going on Monday!”Higgins was quick to reply: “If Joseph Parker wins, I challenge Eddie to never wear that turtleneck again - It’s disgusting!”Hearn then called towards Higgins to high-five him, but pulled away at the last second as Higgins reached for it. The gesture garnered a round of laughter across the stadium.
Parker's promoter then claimed: “Yeah, you got me! He’s [Hearn] quick.”
Nonetheless, actions will speak louder than words tonight as Joshua faces off Parker inside the Principality Stadium in Wales, a bout which is destined to go down as one of the biggest clashes of the calendar year.