Parker’s world title fight could be moved to Texas

Joseph Parker’s historic world heavyweight title fight in New Zealand is under threat with contingency plans to switch the event to the United States already being made.

Duco Events and Top Rank, the promoters of Parker’s opponent Andy Ruiz, have agreed Auckland as the preferred venue for December 10.

But the reality of organising an event of this magnitude in such a short time frame is already biting and could see the Kiwis reluctantly hand over hosting rights to Top Rank boss Bob Arum, who has raised the prospect of Mexican Ruiz and his Hispanic popularity drawing a crowd of up to 80,000 at the home of the Dallas Cowboys in Texas.

Duco have less than two weeks to come up with a venue and the financial guarantees or the fight rights will be handed to Arum.

Arum is promoting Manny Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight defence against Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas next month and wants to announce details of the Ruiz versus Parker fight at a breakfast there on November 5 in front of the world boxing media.

‘‘I made a deal with Duco that they have first option to do the fight in New Zealand and I stand by that,’’ Arum told Fairfax Media from Las Vegas. ‘‘But if Dean Lonergan tells me for any reason he is unable or doesn’t want to do the fight in New Zealand, we are ready to do the fight in the United States without any question.

‘‘We are ready, willing and able . . . it would be a blessing to have the fight held in the United States. I know it will generate huge interest here.’’

Arum said the sensible business decision would be to cash in on the Hispanic markets in Las Vegas, California or Texas and he highlighted his ‘‘very strong’’ friendship with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

‘‘That would be a tremendous place for a fight,’’ Arum said, noting Mexican Canelo Alvarez had just won the WBO super welterweight against Britain’s Liam Smith in front of 50,000 fans at the Jones’ AT&T Stadium, which has a retractable roof.

‘‘The ball is in Dean’s court, he has the first option to do the fight. But I’m ready if he can’t.’’