Joseph Parker's promoter David Higgins has said that the deal to fight Anthony Joshua is "close" but there's still work to be done from both sides.
Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs), who is the reigning WBA and IBF world heavyweight champion, could fight WBO champion Parker as soon as March according to the New Zealand boxer but his promoter believes there is still work to be done before a fight can be finalised.
"I think the word 'close' is accurate but there is still a bit of a gap to close," Higgins exclusively told ESPN. "I need a signal from their side that they are willing to move a few percentage points.
"It's down to when [Eddie] Hearn moves a few percent and then we agree to meet and iron out details. That will be driven by Joshua's side. I'm ready to make a deal now.
"Eddie seems quite open-minded, actually. If we did make a deal, we'll collaborate on various things. The main thing to be agreed is the purse ratio but once that's agreed it's worth getting together and going over the other little details that will form a contract.
When asked if Parker could be overpaid to get this fight done, Higgins responded: "Their goal is to unify and they need Parker to do it. It takes two to tango.
"That comes at a premium over what they might pay a voluntary [defence]. But that being said, the event will also be four times the size of a voluntary.
"It will be a very big pie, so the money Joshua makes will be substantially more than the Takam fight."