01-27-2017, 11:11 AM
True Sham. Gotta happen sometime. Better with Hughie than AJ.
Parker's Promoter Aims To Win Bid, Bring Fury To New Zealand
By Edward Chaykovsky
David Higgins of Duco Events, who promote WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, is ready for a battle of checkbooks when he travels to Puerto Rico next week to take part in the WBO's official purse bid for the mandatory defense against Hughie Fury.
The sanctioning body ordered a purse bid for February 1, with a minimum bid of $1 million. Fury is promoted by Frank Warren of the UK.
The WBO called for the purse bid after both sides indicated that there were issues in reaching an agreement after two weeks of negotiations.
The fight will take place in the UK or New Zealand - depending on which side wins the purse bid.
"The stakes are very high and it's a nervous situation," Higgins said to Fairfax Media. "You have to try and predict what the revenues are going to be and then bid the most you can. If you bid too much you could lose a lot of money very quickly. And if we don't bid enough we lose control."
"We want to fight in New Zealand because we want home advantage. Last year was an Olympic year and Joseph Parker was the most Googled of any New Zealander - that tells you there's a massive support base there. I'd like to think there's a better understanding now of how big it is especially now Joseph is world champion. That last fight was watched in 100 television market."
"Nearly every sport you can name receives government support and given the fight would attract international visitors and profile you'd like to think it would be seriously considered. I don't want to pre-empt anything but we probably will prepare a proposal and see if there's a willingness to make it happen here in New Zealand."
Parker captured the vacant WBO world title last month with a close points decision over previously undefeated Andy Ruiz in Auckland. One judge scored the fight a draw and the other two had it 115-113 in favor of Parker
Parker's Promoter Aims To Win Bid, Bring Fury To New Zealand
By Edward Chaykovsky
David Higgins of Duco Events, who promote WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, is ready for a battle of checkbooks when he travels to Puerto Rico next week to take part in the WBO's official purse bid for the mandatory defense against Hughie Fury.
The sanctioning body ordered a purse bid for February 1, with a minimum bid of $1 million. Fury is promoted by Frank Warren of the UK.
The WBO called for the purse bid after both sides indicated that there were issues in reaching an agreement after two weeks of negotiations.
The fight will take place in the UK or New Zealand - depending on which side wins the purse bid.
"The stakes are very high and it's a nervous situation," Higgins said to Fairfax Media. "You have to try and predict what the revenues are going to be and then bid the most you can. If you bid too much you could lose a lot of money very quickly. And if we don't bid enough we lose control."
"We want to fight in New Zealand because we want home advantage. Last year was an Olympic year and Joseph Parker was the most Googled of any New Zealander - that tells you there's a massive support base there. I'd like to think there's a better understanding now of how big it is especially now Joseph is world champion. That last fight was watched in 100 television market."
"Nearly every sport you can name receives government support and given the fight would attract international visitors and profile you'd like to think it would be seriously considered. I don't want to pre-empt anything but we probably will prepare a proposal and see if there's a willingness to make it happen here in New Zealand."
Parker captured the vacant WBO world title last month with a close points decision over previously undefeated Andy Ruiz in Auckland. One judge scored the fight a draw and the other two had it 115-113 in favor of Parker