November 2, 2024

Higgins flies to London to wrap up Joshua-Parker deal

It looks like the Anthony Joshua-Joseph Parker negotiations are finally wrapping up.

Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images

Duco Events promoter David Higgins, who represents WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, is current en-route to London as he prepares to finalize a deal for a heavyweight title unification with Anthony Joshua.

Higgins tells ESPN that he and Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, are close enough on a deal that he’s making the trek to London to put the finishing touches on the contract. Higgins also says he would not be making this trip if a deal weren’t imminent.

“In boxing, some camps haggle and argue over trivial stuff, and it gets in the way of fights,” Higgins said. “They have petty arguments. Eddie is more like me in that he’s straightforward, and based on the negotiations that we have had to date, we can close out the final details and get an announcement in about a week. There are just a few minor things, co-promotional stuff that we’re working on. We’re dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.”

One of the important final details which still needs to be settled is the American broadcast rights for the fight. Showtime currently has matching rights for one more of Joshua’s bouts under its expiring contract, and Bob Arum, who co-promotes Parker, would like to bring the fight to ESPN as part of his new venture with the network. However that turns out, Higgins says the fight will have a major U.S. television outlet.

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