Fury next for Joe in UK grudge bout
THE scenario for Joseph Parker is simple: get through his first WBO world title defence against Romanian challenger Razvan Cojanu in Auckland on Saturday, and Hughie Fury is next in line.
Duco’s Australian-based matchmaker Stuart Duncan has revealed that, should Parker defeat Cojanu as expected this week, the Kiwi champion must then face Fury, with that fight likely to be in England in August/ September.
Two weeks before he was due to step into the ring Fury pulled out of the scheduled title fight with Parker citing a back injury, despite proclaiming to be ready to go only days previously.
Duco Events boss David Higgins accused the Fury camp of having a broken moral compass, such were his frustrations at having to try save his show at late notice.
Dominic Breazeale was considered as a replacement but his stand and trade style - one completely different to what Parker had prepared for with Fury - was deemed too risky at such short notice. Cojanu, Parker’s sparring partner who is ranked 14th with the WBO, stepped up.
Now it seems the Furys will get exactly what they wanted, with Hughie set to retain his mandatory status, and the fight likely to take place in their backyard.
‘‘Hughie Fury has provided a medical document saying he has a problem with his lower back which in boxing terms means it can’t be proven otherwise,’’ Duncan said. ‘‘Whether there was an injury or not we don’t know but Joe’s next fight has got to be Hughie Fury. It can’t be anyone else. It doesn’t matter what’s said.
‘‘The WBO has said rather than Duco copping a loss they will enable a non-mandatory defence on this occasion to keep the show alive but because medical evidence is provided Joe will have to face Hughie Fury in the next outing.’’
WBC champion Deontay Wilder - the respected American with an impressive 38-0 record - was among those to call out Parker last week after Fury failed to show in New Zealand. But, for the immediate future at least, Wilder appears equation.
‘‘There’s no point talking about a Wilder fight because the WBO won’t allow it to happen. Once he has got Hughie out of the way then Joe can do what he likes.’’
After stumping up $4.1 million for the purse bid Duco still retain the rights to control where the Fury fight will be held. The Fury promotion in New Zealand was thought to be struggling, with out of the major sponsors such as Burger King no longer on board, and taking it to the UK would minimise the financial risk for Duco.
It also ticks several other boxes, allowing Parker to build his brand and break into the REUTERS lucrative UK market; then potentially eye a non-mandatory fight against natural cruiserweight Tony Bellew, whose stocks have never been higher following his shock victory over former champion David Haye last month.
If Anthony Joshua gets past Wladimir Klitschko in the scrap for the IBF and WBA belts this morning, NZ time, the likelihood of staging the Fury fight in England would increase. ’’In the event Joshua wins that fight I believe it would be in the best interests of Joe to fight Hughie Fury over in the UK.
‘‘As far as I’m concerned unless Hughie enters the ring with a chainsaw he’s not going to hurt Joe. If it does go to a points decision Joe will clearly be the winner because he’s got faster hand speed, he’s the more aggressive fighter and he’s going to have Fury on the backfoot.
‘‘In my opinion it doesn’t matter if he fights him in England and Hughie’s mother and father are referee and judge, or whether he fights him in New Zealand, Joe will win that fight. I believe Razvan is a harder fight than Fury.’’
‘ As far as I'm concerned unless Hughie enters the ring with a chainsaw he's not going to hurt Joe.’ STUART DUNCAN