The next fight for WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker is likely to be against Hughie Fury, but where and when it takes place is in limbo.
Parker’s management team Duco couldn’t reach a contract agreement with Fury’s promoter Frank Warren, meaning the complicated purse bid process is now in place.
"Warren has requested the WBO call for a purse bid," said Director David Higgins.
"Our two camps haven’t been able to make a deal. Normally one or both of the boxers want too much money and a purse bid is a good way to flush out the fair market value of a fight."
But Duco and Frank Warren may not be the only money men in the frame, which isn’t great news for the New Zealand events group.
"Any registered promoter in the world can tender an amount of money and whoever bids the most gets control of the fight, so we're nervous.
"We’ve worked so hard to get here and don’t want to lose control. We could be fighting in front of 15,000 gypsies in Manchester, all cheering for Hughie Fury."
The equation is simple for Higgins.
"We want home advantage. The New Zealand public is 100 percent on side and Joseph is massively popular, so we want to win the purse bid.
"The WBO says it needs to be a million-dollar minimum so we’re going to put in as much as we can."
While Parker is a world champion and Hughie Fury’s unbeaten record is somewhat questionable in terms of quality opposition, this isn’t relevant in the big-money world of boxing.
"Fury is in a massive market, with a huge number of English fans prepared to buy tickets. In terms of TV they’ve also got an established relationship with BT Sport, so it’s all down to finances and pulling power – not who has the belt."
"I now fly to Puerto Rico next Wednesday and put a tender in an envelope and submit it to the WBO. If we win, we’re in control and win all the rights.
"But I wouldn’t say we’re confident about the purse bid and in terms of who wins it, I have no idea."
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