British officials unmoved over referee

WELLINGTON: A British referee appears to be cemented in place for Joseph Parker’s world heavyweight title defence, much to the disdain of his management.

Kiwi Parker’s promoters hit out this week at the appointment of experienced Birminghambased referee Terry O’Connor to control the WBO title challenge from Briton Hughie Fury in Manchester on September 23.

Duco Events director David Higgins slammed the British Boxing Board of Control for appointing O’Connor, saying he was ‘‘appalled’’ by a referee appointment that contravenes WBO rules concerning neutrality.

He and the WBO have both requested O’Connor be replaced but the BBBoC is not budging.

O’Connor (63) controlled the unbeaten Fury’s two fights this year, both in London against overseas opponents.

BBBoC general secretary Robert Smith told Sky Sports News his body will not not make an exception to its own rules.

‘‘Our standard policy is to have a British referee, a British judge, an official from the country where the boxer is coming from and another from a neutral coun

try [on the judging panel],’’ Smith said.

‘‘We advised the WBO some time ago our referee we want to appoint is Terry O’Connor and the judge being Marcus McDonnell.’’

Smith said they would accept a

New Zealander among the trio of judges for the fight but he was yet to hear who that might be, from either Higgins or the WBO.

He confirmed Duco Events had been in touch to plead for O’Connor’s removal but did not believe it was warranted.

‘‘We take on board what their thoughts are. We don’t agree,’’ he said.

‘‘We do not deem it correct to change our standard policy on this occasion. Mr O’Connor is a worldclass referee. We are satisfied.’’ — NZN