Anthony Joshua wants to spar with Carlos Takam to polish his skills for his looming world heavyweight title clash with Joseph Parker.
It's an unusual situation given that Takam was Joshua's last victim, beaten by a technical knock out after 10 rugged rounds last October.
Joshua is eager to up the intensity levels of his sparring work for the fight with Parker in Cardiff on 1st April where he puts his IBF and WBA belts on the line along with the Kiwi's WBO title.
Takam is the one common foe the two fighters share over their unbeaten professional careers.
Parker won a 12‑round unanimous points decision against Takam in 2016, a result that signalled the Kiwi's claims as a world title contender.
The unexpected late move suggests all is not well at Joshua's training camp in Sheffield where he has a stable of sparring partners trying to replicate Parker's style.
Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn told TalkSport that there had been some hesitancy from the Takam camp as they want their fighter to remain in the title mix rather than be someone else's punching bag.
But Hearn suggested they should take the offer as a compliment rather than an insult.
Parker, meanwhile, continues to look fitter and stronger as he buries himself in his training in Las Vegas.
Source: stuff.co.nz
