Kiwi fighter got ‘no favours’ from ref
A gracious Team Parker were left frustrated that the referee took away the brawl element of their fight with Anthony Joshua.
Italian referee Giuseppe Quartarone never allowed much flow to the fight when it was battled at close quarters, an area where Parker wanted to dominate and looked strong when he did get on the front foot against the big Brit.
Parker’s boss David Higgins was quick to make that point as he was the first to front the media in the post-fight analysis. ‘‘I think you can be ungracious in putting the fight together, but you must be gracious in defeat,’’ Higgins said.
‘‘The commentators were saying he [the referee] pulled Joe out when he got in and he did us no favours and his English wasn’t that good,’’ Higgins said.
‘‘When Joe was brawling there were hints of Joe finishing it but the ref kept separating them. On another night with a bit more brawling and a different ref, it might go our way. But to sum it up, we respect Anthony Joshua, we’re gracious in defeat.’’
Higgins said there was pride in Parker being the first fighter to go the distance with Joshua in 21 fights.
‘‘I think we learned that Joshua is a good boxer and can go the distance. That was a total mark of respect. But we were here to win, so there is no consolation.‘‘
Parker himself didn’t want to be dragged into the referee controversy, clearly not wanting to look for excuses.
‘‘I enjoyed the whole event, I was beaten by a bigger, better man,’’ he said, clearly looking disappointed and sporting a cut over his left eye but otherwise in good health.
‘‘He was the better man on the day, he deserved the win. I have just got to take it on the chin.’’
Joshua said he was comfortable fighting to the referee’s demands and suggested the Kiwi camp hadn’t managed to adapt to that.