Government right to box clever on title fight

Duco Events’ David Higgins pulled no punches yesterday when he criticised the deal the Government was offering in response to their request for public money in order to stage Joseph Parker’s title fight in New Zealand.

The Government offered them a loan, in return for which “they’d want profile, visitation, investment opportunities, hospitality . . . we’d deliver all of that and then he suggested we’d give the money back.”

That was “freeloading”, he added. “It wasn’t us being the freeloaders.”

A loan on such terms does sound unreasonable until it is remembered that the only reason Duco gave the public for wanting Government assistance was the short time they had to raise private sponsorship.

Parker’s opportunity to fight for the recently vacated title had come to them very suddenly. A loan, rather than a grant, made sense in these circumstances because, given time, Duco would be able to raise the amount it required from the private sector.

Of course that could depend on Parker winning the bout against American contender Andy Ruiz Jnr on December 10. If he wins, sponsors may be lining up. The Government was being asked to take the risk. For that, it was driving a hard bargain if Higgins has fairly described its demands.

But professional boxing is a hard business. As a business and a sport, it is not a “good fit” with public money. It does not take place in natural settings, does not promote tourism or generate an industry like the America’s Cup, it seems unlikely many visitors would travel a long way for an event that may be over in minutes.

Better that local sponsors are found. Parker, having come this far, richly deserves them.