By Clay Wilson

Undefeated British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has responded to being called out by Kiwi counterpart Joseph Parker, saying "talk is cheap".

Calls for the highly-rated young pair to clash have grown progressively louder as they have risen through the rankings over the past 12 months, but not until Parker's latest victory in Samoa last month have the two fighters and their camps publicly spoken about a possible bout.

Parker went to 18-0 with his eighth-round technical knockout of journeyman American southpaw Jason Bergman in Apia and subsequently leapfrogged Joshua and former longtime champion Wladimir Klitschko of the Ukraine to gain the WBO's No 1 ranking.

In the wake of that news, Parker's promotion company Duco Events released a video with their headline act calling out his English rival for a fight that would confirm the mandatory challenger to face British belt holder Tyson Fury.

"Anthony Joshua, I am now ranked number one in the WBO you are ranked number two," Parker said in the video. "Come to New Zealand to fight me for the number one (mandatory) position.

"Anthony I am not scared of you. You said when we get together someone is going to get knocked out. Guess what, it is not going to be me".

Joshua, whose promoter Eddie Hearn had previously said Parker would have to get in line after Duco director Dean Lonergan said the 2012 Olympic champion was running scared, extended his record to 15-0 with a seventh-round knockout of compatriot Dillian Whtye in December.

Although he didn't take Parker's words as completely genuine, Joshua confirmed he was interested in taking on the South Auckland product soon.

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"Everyone is entitled to their opinion," Joshua told iFL TV. "So be it, talk is cheap until the bell rings. And I wont say till the final bell rings, till the ref jumps in and stops it. Because as I said someone will get knocked out if him and me come to blows.

"I was very respectful about Joseph Parker and what I feel about our fight. And he was "piped" in that interview. I don't feel that came from him because I didn't really feel any passion, I didn't feel his heart in that interview ... but it's a fight pending."

Joshua remained non-committal on when the bout could be, simply saying  it would happen "sooner or later". The 26-year-old also said he was "definitely not going to New Zealand".

Parker's next fight is in Christchurch in late April, while Joshua will next step into the ring in London on April 9. However, neither have opponents confirmed.

On Tuesday, Hearn confirmed negotiations for Joshua to challenge American Charles Martin for the IBF world title on that date were ongoing.

Martin (23-0-1) claimed the vacant belt last month when Ukrainian Vyacheslav Glazkov retired with a knee injury. Joshua is the No 4 contender with the IBF, ahead of Parker at 6.

"I feel the same as I do about Joseph Parker – he's going to get knocked out," Joshua said of the prospect of facing Martin.

"It's mad that I've got the world champion calling me out when I should be chasing him. But obviously it shows that I have got something to give, something that they want.

"That's a fight that I'm looking closely at as well."