12-16-2016, 10:35 AM
Hughie Fury's promoter to Joseph Parker: Let's get a deal done
New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker with the WBO belt that Britain's Hughie Fury has his eyes on.
Joseph Parker's hopes of defending his WBO title against Hughie Fury has been boosted by the British boxer's promoter saying he wants to "get the deal done".
Frank Warren, a respected figure in the fight game, says his charge Fury "wants the fight" against Parker.
Parker's handlers at Duco Events are still waiting for official confirmation of the mandatory defence but Warren is adamant Fury now holds those rights and is eager to take on Parker, preferably in the UK.
Hughie Fury holds the WBO's intercontinental belt but wants a shot at the world title against Joseph Parker.
Warren, who has been promoting fights since 1980, has penned a column for BritishBoxers were he outlined his desire to have Fury fight Parker who beat Mexico's Andy Ruiz in Auckland last Saturday.
The WBO belt was vacated by Fury's cousin Tyson Fury because of drug issues and fight inactivity.
"The good news is that it (the belt) could well be back in the hands of the Fury family before too long," Warren wrote.
"Parker must now defend against our own Hughie Fury, who officially holds mandatory status for a challenge for the WBO heavyweight title.
"David Haye was initially in pole position, but he now has a March date in his diary, so it goes to the next available contender and that is Hughie.
"I know Hughie was watching events in Auckland closely and wants the fight. He is right up for it so we will do our best and get it done for him."
Warren wants the fight to take place in Britain. Whether Duco Events wants to relinquish home rights remains to be seen.
They are adamant a fight in New Zealand can still translate into a good time slot for the British pay-per-view audience.
A fight in Britain, though, is also a tempting chance to give the UK their first live look at Parker who is keen to make a mark with that lucrative audience.
WBO rules says the mandatory defence must be held within 120 days of Parker's win over Ruiz. The only way he can avoid that is to get a unification fight, with WBC champion Deontay Wilder the only available option. Wilder has also been courting Fury and wants a February fight as his comeback from injury gathers momentum.
But Fury, an unbeaten and large-framed 22-year-old, now clearly seems to be preferring to fight Parker, the 24-year-old Kiwi whose record has gone to 22-0.
"We will enter into negotiations with the objective of bringing the fight over here. The worst case scenario is that it goes to purse bids and if it does, so be it," Warren wrote for BritishBoxers.
"Bringing the fight to the UK market makes sense for both parties and it would be the perfect opportunity for Hughie to really put his stamp on the division and show the public what he is all about.
"He is a superbly talented individual who is so well drilled and schooled by his father Peter. All the tough and tricky learning fights he has been put through from such an early age will really serve him well now."
Warren wasn't particularly complimentary about Parker's tight win over Ruiz, a controversial majority points decision.
"It was a decent enough fight, without exactly having us on the edge of our armchairs and, in all honesty, I was expecting a little bit better from two young, unbeaten contenders," he wrote.
"There was hardly anything in it, with neither of them particularly forcing the issue, but the right man probably got the nod in the end.
"It certainly wasn't one of those fights that left you craving a rematch and it is probably a good job because that is not an option."
Warren said Tyson Fury "must be watching the heavyweight soap opera play out with a heavy heart" as lesser ranked fighters take his belts.
Warren felt there was "brainwashing going on" around the looming Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko match.
Warren said Joshua had been "spoon fed" poor quality opponents and he had reservations about the current credentials of Klitschko who will be 41 when the bell rings for the April fight.
- Stuff
New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker with the WBO belt that Britain's Hughie Fury has his eyes on.
Joseph Parker's hopes of defending his WBO title against Hughie Fury has been boosted by the British boxer's promoter saying he wants to "get the deal done".
Frank Warren, a respected figure in the fight game, says his charge Fury "wants the fight" against Parker.
Parker's handlers at Duco Events are still waiting for official confirmation of the mandatory defence but Warren is adamant Fury now holds those rights and is eager to take on Parker, preferably in the UK.
Hughie Fury holds the WBO's intercontinental belt but wants a shot at the world title against Joseph Parker.
Warren, who has been promoting fights since 1980, has penned a column for BritishBoxers were he outlined his desire to have Fury fight Parker who beat Mexico's Andy Ruiz in Auckland last Saturday.
The WBO belt was vacated by Fury's cousin Tyson Fury because of drug issues and fight inactivity.
"The good news is that it (the belt) could well be back in the hands of the Fury family before too long," Warren wrote.
"Parker must now defend against our own Hughie Fury, who officially holds mandatory status for a challenge for the WBO heavyweight title.
"David Haye was initially in pole position, but he now has a March date in his diary, so it goes to the next available contender and that is Hughie.
"I know Hughie was watching events in Auckland closely and wants the fight. He is right up for it so we will do our best and get it done for him."
Warren wants the fight to take place in Britain. Whether Duco Events wants to relinquish home rights remains to be seen.
They are adamant a fight in New Zealand can still translate into a good time slot for the British pay-per-view audience.
A fight in Britain, though, is also a tempting chance to give the UK their first live look at Parker who is keen to make a mark with that lucrative audience.
WBO rules says the mandatory defence must be held within 120 days of Parker's win over Ruiz. The only way he can avoid that is to get a unification fight, with WBC champion Deontay Wilder the only available option. Wilder has also been courting Fury and wants a February fight as his comeback from injury gathers momentum.
But Fury, an unbeaten and large-framed 22-year-old, now clearly seems to be preferring to fight Parker, the 24-year-old Kiwi whose record has gone to 22-0.
"We will enter into negotiations with the objective of bringing the fight over here. The worst case scenario is that it goes to purse bids and if it does, so be it," Warren wrote for BritishBoxers.
"Bringing the fight to the UK market makes sense for both parties and it would be the perfect opportunity for Hughie to really put his stamp on the division and show the public what he is all about.
"He is a superbly talented individual who is so well drilled and schooled by his father Peter. All the tough and tricky learning fights he has been put through from such an early age will really serve him well now."
Warren wasn't particularly complimentary about Parker's tight win over Ruiz, a controversial majority points decision.
"It was a decent enough fight, without exactly having us on the edge of our armchairs and, in all honesty, I was expecting a little bit better from two young, unbeaten contenders," he wrote.
"There was hardly anything in it, with neither of them particularly forcing the issue, but the right man probably got the nod in the end.
"It certainly wasn't one of those fights that left you craving a rematch and it is probably a good job because that is not an option."
Warren said Tyson Fury "must be watching the heavyweight soap opera play out with a heavy heart" as lesser ranked fighters take his belts.
Warren felt there was "brainwashing going on" around the looming Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko match.
Warren said Joshua had been "spoon fed" poor quality opponents and he had reservations about the current credentials of Klitschko who will be 41 when the bell rings for the April fight.
- Stuff