JUDGE DREAD
Parker’s team in warning to officials over ‘home’ decision for Joshua
JOSEPH PARKER’S camp are warning Saturday’s officials they will not work again if they cheat the Kiwi against Anthony Joshua.
Italian referee Giuseppe Quartarone and judges Ian Scott from New Zealand, Steve Gray from Britain and Steve Weisfeld from the US will take charge of the world heavyweight unification clash at Cardiff ’s Principality Stadium.
Parker’s manager and promoter David Higgins pushed for a balanced panel of officials and claims their careers will be over if they try to favour the home fighter Joshua. “An occasion this big and the fact the scorecards are published, if the judges were to favour Joshua unfairly, it would be seen as disgraceful and their careers would be in jeopardy,” warned Higgins. “We have the view that this fight is so big and there is so much scrutiny on the officials, they should know they won’t work again if they favour the home man.” Higgins successfully objected when the British Boxing Board of Control named Terry O’Connor referee for Parker’s win over Hughie Fury in Manchester (below) in September, even storming the stage at the final press conference. O’Connor was replaced by Marcus McDonnell and Higgins claims the authorities now treat them with more respect. The New Zealander claims WBO champ Parker would have pulled out of the fight if their demands over the officials had been ignored. “When we first fought in the UK, the officials were in breach of the contract and the spirit of the fight, so we had to work hard to try to change that,” said Higgins (left). “This shows we are taken more seriously now. We went to English territory and outmanoeuvred some very experienced boxing people and came away with a win. “I think we have earned some respect and that shows here. “We are grateful to the British Boxing Board of Control for selecting a balanced panel. There’s one New Zealander, one Brit, a US judge and an Italian referee. “We had a meeting of minds early and Eddie Hearn agreed that it should be a balanced panel and so he was supportive. I went into it saying this fight would not happen unless it was a balanced panel. “Before major fights in the past, the British Board have gone for a balanced panel and I’m pleased we didn’t have any disagreements.”