Boxing: Joseph Parker's promoter David Higgins compares Anthony Joshua to English football team

Joseph Parker with promoter David Higgins. Photo / Photosport

Joseph Parker's promoter has poured fuel on the fiery rivalry between WBO champion Parker and IBF and WBA title holder Anthony Joshua.

With a heavyweight title unification bout set to be announced in the coming days, Duco boss David Higgins compared Joshua to the English football team saying the British champion will choke at the highest level.

"We have a hypothesis that Joshua is like the English football team. Built up and hyped up, but never steps up when it gets to the top level," Higgins told Behind the Gloves.

"They will get up to the football world cup finals, but never make the final because they choke.

"So we wonder whether Joshua at unification level will be found out?"

Higgins said he and Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn have a few more details to iron out before an official deal is made.

"I'm here to hopefully negotiable and close a deal with Eddie Hearn for the first unification bout in 10 years for Joseph Parker to fight Anthony Joshua for four heavyweight belts.

"Hearn and Joshua want the deal and so do we. We are just working through minor details and we are getting closer every day.

"Will it be announced soon? Maybe, could be announced early next week but we are still going over and back on a few contractual points.

"I am reasonably confident we can make a deal within a week."

Hearn echoed Higgins' thoughts, saying he's hopeful an announcement can be made next week.

"My man David Higgins - he's a bit nuts, David Higgins, but he's a good guy," Hearn told IFL.TV. "He knows what he wants and we're moving at speed.

"We had about four hours yesterday, we're drafting, we've overcome most of the points in the agreement.

"Hopefully, Parker will come in the weekend... hopefully, you'll get an announcement next week."

Meanwhile, both Joshua and Parker have also shared hints of the imminent fight announcement on social media.