Joseph Parker and Anthony Joshua bout close, but not over the line yet, Eddie Hearn says

Eddie Hearn says the hard work on a bout between Joseph Parker and Anthony Joshua is just about to begin. Photo / Photosport

Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has warned his counterpart David Higgins to be ready for the hard work as they look to lock in a world heavyweight unification fight between Joshua and Joseph Parker.

A contract has been produced that will see Parker put his WBO belt on the line alongside Joshua's WBA and IBF belts, and Higgins is expected to soon fly to London to sign the dotted line.

The two camps have agreed on the money split that will give Parker about a third of the profit for the fight – which was believed to be worth approximately NZ$12 million.

While Team Parker have jawed off while trying to set up the bout, Hearn told Stuff that it was time to get serious.

"We have a long way to go," Hearn said.

Parker and Joshua have looked likely to meet in the ring sooner or later over their young careers, with Parker having the mandatory challenging rights to the Britton's IBF title.

A fight looked like it may have come out of that, however Parker's handlers saw the opportunity to claim the WBO title, which he did against Andy Ruiz in December 2016.

"I think that was probably the right decision at the time, certainly a lot easier," Hearn told Stuff.

"It has been a long process but it is the perfect fight for everybody. I feel it's a fight that deep down everybody wants so generally when that happens, as long as everybody is sensible, you'll get there in the end.

"Joseph Parker is going to make a lot of money and so is Anthony Joshua. But more than that, they are going to get a chance to unify the division."