Joseph Parker's WBO title defence plans firm and Duco wants public money to help hold fight in NZ
New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker is in demand now that he owns one of the four main belts in the division.
Plans for Joseph Parker's first defence of his WBO heavyweight title have firmed and his handlers Duco Events confirm they will again controversially push for public funding to have it held in New Zealand.
Duco co-owner David Higgins spent a productive day with Top Rank boss Bob Arum in Los Angeles on Friday and believes the opponent could be revealed in a fortnight with an April fight date likely.
Britain's Hughie Fury appears to be the preferred option from fellow Brit David Price and American Jarrell Miller.
Britain's Hughie Fury is the frontrunner to get a title challenge against Joseph Parker.
"We have had a solid, concrete discussion ... everyone is on the same page, we are getting close," Higgins told Stuff.
"By that I mean Joseph, Kevin Barry, Bob Arum, us (Duco) and the other party. Things seem to be aligning.
"I can't announce anything now because there is still work to be done. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I'll be in a position to do that.
"The key in boxing is everyone has to win. As Don King said, what makes money, makes sense. It's when there isn't a win-win that deals fall over. So it's a matter of aligning everyone's interest and it's heading that way."
Being in a new position of power as the title holder, Higgins believes the decision to align with Arum is proving fruitful given his vast experience of handling champions and mapping out the best routes.
"We are learning a lot, it's great," Higgins said.
The big pay-per-view markets of the UK and US are the prime targets.
"You can go one way or the other, it doesn't really matter. You weigh up the pros and cons and make a risk-return judgement on it. The key is just to keep winning really."
Higgins said finances remain an issue and the stakes raise in that department now. With more time up their sleeve than the hurried title fight against Andy Ruiz in Auckland, they planned proposals for government and city funding.
Last time they pulled out of seeking government money because of a public and political backlash while they suffered a late blow when Auckland's promotional arm Ateed withdrew $500,000 as that level of funding also became a political hot potato.
"We will be looking for sponsorship support and maybe even hopefully city or government (funding) if we can defend it in New Zealand. That would be wonderful if it's possible," Higgins said, adding that public funding "shouldn't be an emotive issue".
"It should be based on fact and if the decision was based on fact then we have a good chance. We think we stack up extremely solidly with our numbers."
Higgins views came as Fury's promoter Frank Warren again pushed for the Parker fight.
Warren penned a column on Saturday that said he was hoping to see the heavyweight division unified and believed disgraced champion Tyson Fury would be ready to return in 2017.
"First things first though. I want to see young Hughie Fury step onto the world stage. He is a tough kid who is more than capable of holding his own against the top boys and I fancy him strongly to put his name on one of the belts," Warren wrote on FrankWarren.com.
"He will get his fight against the WBO champion Joseph Parker in the first third of the year, something we are working out at the moment and trying to get the deal done."
Warren maintained Parker couldn 't dodge Fury because he was the mandatory challenger: "There is no other option, so ignore all the talk."
Higgins maintains the mandatory remains "a grey area" after David Haye stepped aside from that designated role to fight Tony Bellew.
"I've seen nothing in writing from the WBO," Higgins said.
"But regardless of whether he's the mandatory or not, Fury is an option and it's a matter of us and the Warrens cutting a deal."
The venue remains the sticking point. Warren wants the fight in the UK, Higgins wants it in New Zealand where he feels it will still transfer into a good Saturday morning TV audience in Britain.
- Stuff
New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker is in demand now that he owns one of the four main belts in the division.
Plans for Joseph Parker's first defence of his WBO heavyweight title have firmed and his handlers Duco Events confirm they will again controversially push for public funding to have it held in New Zealand.
Duco co-owner David Higgins spent a productive day with Top Rank boss Bob Arum in Los Angeles on Friday and believes the opponent could be revealed in a fortnight with an April fight date likely.
Britain's Hughie Fury appears to be the preferred option from fellow Brit David Price and American Jarrell Miller.
Britain's Hughie Fury is the frontrunner to get a title challenge against Joseph Parker.
"We have had a solid, concrete discussion ... everyone is on the same page, we are getting close," Higgins told Stuff.
"By that I mean Joseph, Kevin Barry, Bob Arum, us (Duco) and the other party. Things seem to be aligning.
"I can't announce anything now because there is still work to be done. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I'll be in a position to do that.
"The key in boxing is everyone has to win. As Don King said, what makes money, makes sense. It's when there isn't a win-win that deals fall over. So it's a matter of aligning everyone's interest and it's heading that way."
Being in a new position of power as the title holder, Higgins believes the decision to align with Arum is proving fruitful given his vast experience of handling champions and mapping out the best routes.
"We are learning a lot, it's great," Higgins said.
The big pay-per-view markets of the UK and US are the prime targets.
"You can go one way or the other, it doesn't really matter. You weigh up the pros and cons and make a risk-return judgement on it. The key is just to keep winning really."
Higgins said finances remain an issue and the stakes raise in that department now. With more time up their sleeve than the hurried title fight against Andy Ruiz in Auckland, they planned proposals for government and city funding.
Last time they pulled out of seeking government money because of a public and political backlash while they suffered a late blow when Auckland's promotional arm Ateed withdrew $500,000 as that level of funding also became a political hot potato.
"We will be looking for sponsorship support and maybe even hopefully city or government (funding) if we can defend it in New Zealand. That would be wonderful if it's possible," Higgins said, adding that public funding "shouldn't be an emotive issue".
"It should be based on fact and if the decision was based on fact then we have a good chance. We think we stack up extremely solidly with our numbers."
Higgins views came as Fury's promoter Frank Warren again pushed for the Parker fight.
Warren penned a column on Saturday that said he was hoping to see the heavyweight division unified and believed disgraced champion Tyson Fury would be ready to return in 2017.
"First things first though. I want to see young Hughie Fury step onto the world stage. He is a tough kid who is more than capable of holding his own against the top boys and I fancy him strongly to put his name on one of the belts," Warren wrote on FrankWarren.com.
"He will get his fight against the WBO champion Joseph Parker in the first third of the year, something we are working out at the moment and trying to get the deal done."
Warren maintained Parker couldn 't dodge Fury because he was the mandatory challenger: "There is no other option, so ignore all the talk."
Higgins maintains the mandatory remains "a grey area" after David Haye stepped aside from that designated role to fight Tony Bellew.
"I've seen nothing in writing from the WBO," Higgins said.
"But regardless of whether he's the mandatory or not, Fury is an option and it's a matter of us and the Warrens cutting a deal."
The venue remains the sticking point. Warren wants the fight in the UK, Higgins wants it in New Zealand where he feels it will still transfer into a good Saturday morning TV audience in Britain.
- Stuff