Opinion: Parker vs Ruiz - a missed opportunity

(Duco's Dean Lonergan and David Higgins)
(Duco's Dean Lonergan and David Higgins)

I can't believe it.

I still can't believe that Kiwi sports fans had a chance to help our own Joseph Parker fight for a WBO world heavyweight title in our own country, and we're literally letting it - almost wanting it - to head overseas.

The debate over taxpayer funding for Parker vs Andy Ruiz this week has been ridiculous and sad. As Duco turned to the Government to help ensure the fight remained in New Zealand, we saw a public backlash which had nothing to do with the opportunity presented, and everything to with a negative perception of boxing, and the business of boxing.

Among the media hot-takes were suggestions that Sky should show the fight for free. Why should they? Because the taxpayer funded it? We fund our Olympic athletes as well. I don't remember the outcry from the public and the media when you watched our athletes win Gold on Sky.

And believe me, we spend A LOT more money on Olympic athletes and their sports than the amount applied for to help fund this fight. And if Sky can't charge for the fight, how do they pay for the staff who operate the broadcast facilities for the fight? It's unreasonable. It's illogical.

Now without Government help, Duco face a fascinating business decision. Everything is riding on Parker. They cannot afford for him to lose this fight.

So do they bite the bullet, cop a loss, to give Parker home advantage and the best possible chance of victory in a fight that would provide the springboard to the bigger and better fights? Or do they hand over the rights, and hope?

Here's what I think.

If Parker's the fighter we're led to believe he is, he should beat Ruiz whether the fight's in Auckland, Texas or Timbuktu.

If he does, he'll have secured the title that'll earn him fights against other champions of other sanctioning bodies like Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, maybe even Wladimir Klitchsko. These are the giants of the sport. Big names, big paydays. Beat them, and the opportunity to host a world title fight in New Zealand will come again.

And if that happens, Duco won't need Government funding. If Parker becomes a multiple world title holder, we can dream of watching him defend those titles in whatever stadium he likes. Vector Arena, Eden Park - take your pick. Fans would pay a fortune to be there. Sponsors would pay more to have their brand attached to it. Tourism New Zealand might even want a slice of that.

That's if they're held in New Zealand at all. If Parker becomes as successful as we all hope he becomes, we may have seen the last of him on our shores for some time.

Like this unprecedented opportunity, he will be missed.

Newshub.