Newshub roundtable: Is Joseph Parker in danger of facing the ultimate screw job against Hughie Fury?

  • 23/09/2017

Joseph Parker defends his WBO heavyweight title against Brit Hughie Fury in Manchester on Sunday morning (NZ time).

It's been a disruptive final few weeks for the Kiwi, with his promoter throwing around accusations of biased officials and the potential of a fixed-fight.

Is the Kiwi slugger been set-up for the ultimate screw job against Fury?

Roundtable debates.

Andrew Gourdie, Newshub sport presenter and reporter

Boxing is corrupt. Plain and simple.

Even the biggest fights in the world this year - Jeff Horn versus Manny Pacquiao, Gennady Golovkin versus Canelo Alvarez - have been overshadowed by controversial scoring from the judges.

Incompetence at best, but even the most passionate and committed boxing fans suspect corruption.

We have no reason to believe Parker versus Fury will be immune to attempts to predetermine the outcome of the fight.

The moment Duco lost control of this promotion, they arguably lost control of the ability to ensure a fair fight. If it goes to the judges' scorecards on Sunday morning, they can have no complaints if the result goes against them.

Sam Ackerman, general head of sport Newshub

Parker is facing a screw job, but he will get no sympathy from me if it happens. Parker and Duco are big boys and this is a sport where the decks are stacked on a regular basis.

Parker should win and he shouldn't need this to be decided by judges, so he'll have failed if he gives the Fury camp that opportunity.

Mike McRoberts, Newshub presenter

No way is the Parker v Fury fight fixed - I mean "fixing" would suggest that corruption, bribery and crookedness had somehow made it's way into professional boxing.

And that would never happen, right?

Newshub roundtable: Is Joseph Parker in danger of facing the ultimate screw job against Hughie Fury?
Photo credit: Newshub

Ross Karl, Newshub rugby editor

It's a libelous call to say it's absolutely a fix, but considering boxing is crooked at the best of times it doesn't look great.

The most interesting part is whether Terry O'Connor is more dangerous as a judge and not his old spot as referee.

The Parker camp has obviously decided they're more comfortable with that, as he won't let Fury clinch and do as he pleases in the ring.

However, in the end it's the judges who decide whether you win or lose, unless you knock someone out. Maybe, O'Connor might have been less dangerous in the ring.

Stephen Foote, Newshub sport digital producer

Joseph Parker needs a knockout, and a definitive on at that, in order to both propel his name among the elite of the flourishing heavyweight division and avoid putting his fate in the morally questionable hands of the judges.

Many have questioned the logic in Duco's push to have rogue referee Terry O'Connor 'demoted' to the judges table. Will his questionable influence be even more pronounced in such a role?

On the other hand, the Kiwi promoters may have just achieved the result they were after - to ramp up the pressure on the adjudicating officials and in doing so, increase the level of scrutiny they'll find themselves under come Sunday morning.

But to quote one of the most deplorable lines in combats sports, never leave it in the hands of the judges - especially when you're in enemy territory.

Brad Lewis, Newshub sport digital producer

Make mistake about it - be prepared to hear the words "and new WBO champion" if this fight goes the distance.

Let's wind the clock back to December when Parker got a razor-close decision win over Andy Ruiz - had that fight been at a neutral venue the result may have been different.

And they fought under a neutral referee with no judges from New Zealand. Parker is dealing with a UK referee and a disgruntled UK judge, whose integrity has been put on blast this week.

Parker has to knock Hughie Fury out, otherwise the Manchester local is going home with the belt.

Newshub.