$13 million bout: ‘Joseph will be set up for life’
Joseph Parker’s $13 million world title fight this morning will be career-changing – no matter the result.
Win and he gets a rematch where he will earn 55 per cent of a massive sequel. A draw or a dreaded loss would be the first blot on his professional record – but he will box on.
‘‘Joseph will keep enough of it to be set up for life,’’ says his promoter David Higgins. ‘‘He will probably never have to work again if he doesn’t want to.’’
The biggest variable in the current Anthony Joshua fight deal is the UK pay-per-view, meaning the total income remains ‘‘a guesstimate’’ at this stage.
Parker will get the vast majority, though Higgins’ company Duco and trainer Kevin Barry will get their slices.
Higgins is confident of extending the boxer’s contract. Duco Boxing boss Higgins has guided the WBO champion through a difficult 2017 and on to his huge world heavyweight unification title fight with Anthony Joshua in Cardiff today.
Parker’s contract expires next year. ‘‘As the date looms I’m sure he will assess the situation. But he is a very intelligent young man and he has given me every indication that he would like to see things continue,’’ Higgins told the Sunday Star-Times on the eve of the career-defining fight.
‘‘There is a contract and then there’s also the handshake. Joseph has always been very positive about keeping his core team together for his whole career.’’ Higgins’ controversial and often unorthodox methods have proven successful in setting up lucrative fights for Parker.
‘‘We said to the family that our goal was to assist Joe to become world champion, that we would invest heavily and take risks and not hold back,’’ Higgins said. ‘‘And, importantly, that we could be trusted.’’
Parker indicated he would push on with Duco and Higgins. ‘‘It goes beyond just a promoter, we are best of friends, we have travelled the world together and had some great experiences,’’ Parker said.
‘‘The good thing about David is he has a great heart. He cares not only about myself but my family and all of my friends.’’