Boxing: Deontay Wilder's position could help Joseph Parker's cause

Joseph Parker is currently negotiating a title fight against Anthony Joshua. Photosport

Deontay Wilder, the big-hitting WBC heavyweight world champion, is certain Anthony Joshua will fight Joseph Parker next and has already stated he won't settle for anything less than a 50-50 split if and when he gets his chance against the Englishman.

Parker's representative David Higgins is negotiating with Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn over the financial aspects of a world title unification fight between the pair in London in March and is holding firm at 35 per cent of the profits.

It's understood that Hearn is getting closer to that number, but regardless, Wilder's determination to take 50 per cent, and his challenge to Joshua to put up or shut up, could serve to put the spotlight on the motivations of Joshua and his connections and whether he truly wants to unify the titles.

"It is a great fight, it is one of the biggest fights in the world and everyone wants it," American Wilder told ESPN of a fight between him and Joshua.

"It will be 50-50 or else we don't see a fight.

"If they want to use splits, not to make a fight happen, then so be it. It is not like I am asking for more, I'm saying this is a 50-50 fight and that's how it is. In the rematch, then we can talk about 60-40 splits or whatever. That is more acceptable."

He added: "At the end of the day, whether we fight or not, the pressure is not on me, it is going to be on him."

Parker, the WBO world champion, and Higgins have begun their campaign around the apparent weakness of Joshua's chin and the lack of analysis of said vulnerability in the British media, and Wilder has had his own dig at "AJ's protectors" who have praised him for "beating a 41-year-old man [Wladimir Klitschko] that was out for almost two years [and] that was already dethroned".

Wilder is, like Parker and Joshua, undefeated as a professional and added: "I don't think they are trying to make a negotiation at this point. I think they are trying to seek Parker. They got him on his agenda. [He is] their top priority which is fine. If they don't want to fight at this time, that it is okay.

"We're not [going to] chase [anybody]. I'm not chasing Joshua. If Joshua [doesn't] want to fight, then that's fine. If they want to have one fight apiece, and fight me next, that is fine."

Wilder, who has 19 first-round knockouts on his record, said his punching power would be enough to draw a UK audience. His last fight was a devastating stoppage against Bermane Stiverne, albeit one against an opponent who didn't throw a punch and didn't appear to want to be in the ring.

"The state of boxing, the heavyweight division, we can finally say it is back, it is exciting, it's on fire and to make it even more lit, and even more exciting is going to be the moment when me and Joshua stand in the middle of the ring," Wilder said.

"All the eyes around the world will be watching. We will stop the world in a moment in time to see once and for all, who is the heavyweight champion of the world."

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