Boxing: Joseph Parker - Anthony Joshua should be thinking of legacy, not cash

New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker. Photo / Photosport

Joseph Parker says Anthony Joshua and his connections should concentrate on the Englishman's legacy as a world champion rather than money as negotiations continue towards a showdown between the heavyweights in March.

Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn might see a little irony in Parker's statement, given the Kiwi WBO world champion and his promoter David Higgins recently baulked at a "lowball" offer understood to be about 20 per cent of a potential purse.

But Parker, who believes the fight is a 50-50 chance of happening, just wants a fairer deal and given Higgins is referring positively to the talks between himself and Hearn, he could get his way.

"There is interest from the Joshua camp which is why we're talking to them now," Parker told the Herald. "He's my preferred option. Everyone wants to fight him but I honestly think in his last performance he didn't look the best.

"I didn't look the best in my last performance because of the style I had in front of me. I think his style matches mine perfectly and I honestly think I can knock him out.

"My gut tells me it's 50-50. Our team really wants it. We're 100 per cent in the fight. On their side, I'm not so sure. There's a lot of talk there and it's hard to gauge. I think for Joshua and their team it shouldn't be about the money it should be about his legacy and trying to unify the belts and seeing who the best is.

"They can easily take a voluntary and make big money but for us I think they should pay us a bit more because I have a belt."

Parker's back-up option is undefeated Australian Lucas Browne, a fight which has merit too for the transtasman aspect and the fact Browne has punching power and an aggressive attitude in the ring.

But Browne, who has already agreed terms, could easily be an opponent later next year too. For Parker, who has watched with interest the rivalry building between WBC world champion Deontay Wilder and Joshua, the IBF and WBA title holder, it is a case of taking his shot while he can.

Should the Parker v Joshua fight not get made, a Joshua v Wilder bout, which would attract interest worldwide and particularly on both sides of the Atlantic, could easily lead to one or more re-matches and Parker could be left out in the cold.

"I'm not scared of anyone," Parker said. "They may be big giants, and I respect Wilder's power, but I think they're both beatable.

"Everyone wants to know who the best is. I want to know who the best is - that's why I want to fight these guys."

Should he fight Browne instead - a bout which would probably be held in Sydney or Melbourne - a decent scrap would be the result. In a reference to the evasive Hughie Fury, whom Parker beat on points in Manchester in September, he said: "I like people who stand there and fight - not people who put on sneakers and run around the ring."