Higgins: I could pull Parker out
Boxing promoter David Higgins believes he has the right to pull Joseph Parker from this weekend’s WBO heavyweight world title fight if a neutral referee isn’t appointed.
That possibility was raised in the ugliest of manners at the opening press conference of fight week where Higgins was ejected after a heated argument with Hughie Fury’s father and trainer Peter Fury.
Higgins raised the issue of English referee Terry O’Connor being handed the job for the Manchester fight on Saturday (NZT Sunday) directly with Fury who lashed back in a foul-mouthed tirade at the Duco Events boss.
Higgins, with former South African heavyweight Frans Botha at his side, held his ground but was removed by security guards at the plush Landmark Hotel in London, with Fury yelling repeated profanities as the Kiwi was led away.
Later a calmed down Fury said: ‘‘It’s not nice when your promoter is saying to you that Higgins is threatening to pull out of the fight and wants to run away to New Zealand with the money’’.
Higgins didn’t deny that when Stuff questioned him later in the day.
‘‘They are in breach of contract. The contract says the referee will be neutral and they are in breach. If I want to I could ... I could cancel the fight, keep their money and go to a court battle,’’ Higgins said.
‘‘They are damn right and I could still do that. Unless they change the referee it’s not a fair fight.’’
But Higgins said any late move ‘‘would be a team decision’’.
‘‘It’s up to Joe and Kev [Barry, Parker’s trainer]. They are well prepared.’’
Barry insisted Parker was in Britain to fight Fury and would front in the ring to defend his belt.
Hughie Fury entered the argument later in the day, tweeting mischievously that ‘‘apparently the police were called in’’ and to ‘‘have fun in a cell’’.
Duco said there was no police involvement.
Higgins said his beef was more with the British Boxing Board of Control, who are handling the fight for the WBO, rather than the Furys.
But he found Peter Fury’s reaction interesting as their personal battle breathed some much needed life into a struggling promotion. The British media, always loving a juicy exchange, were quick to headline the war of words and highlighted Fury’s verbal abuse of Higgins.
‘‘I think I got under his skin. I don’t blame the Furys, I blame the BBBoC. I think Peter Fury would happily have a neutral referee.
‘‘But when I looked him in the eye and mentioned it, he fired up and then got some big-balled security guard to push me out,’’ Higgins said.
‘‘It’s very embarrassing for the BBBoC and very embarrassing for the Furys. Having a Brit referee is one thing, but the one that did Hughie’s last two fights? Come on, it’s embarrassing.
‘‘Any right thinking human being on planet earth would say everything should be neutral and fair.’’ Fury’s promoter Mick Hennessy refused to take any responsibility for the referee situation, explaining: ‘‘In all contracts it’s between the WBO and the local commission.
‘‘In all contracts it is the local commission that will over-ride it ... anything that is agreed between the promoters. So it’s down to the governing bodies, we have got no sway over that.
‘‘The WBO work with the BBBoC on a regular basis so they should know those rules, shouldn’t they.’’ Hennessy took things to a personal level when he suggested Higgins had been drinking before his unexpected outburst.
‘‘That there was either his 15 minutes of fame or he’s pissed up ... one of the two. God knows why he did that, there’s no need for it,’’ Hennessy said.
Higgins took that on the chin and fired back a counterpunch.
‘‘So what? Hennessy is trying to change the subject. How many beers I have is not the issue, whether the referee is neutral or not is the issue.
‘‘Me having a few beers doesn’t change the fact they are trying to breach the contract or take an unfair advantage.’’