Duco Events are masters in the art of promotion - but does their marquee signing Joseph Parker have what it takes to be champion of the world? And is there such a thing any more?
We all know Parker is the mandatory challenger to the IBF crown held by Anthony Joshua. But is the IBF a bigger deal than the WBA, the WBC or the WBO? It's confusing.
In generations gone by, the Rumble in the Jungle was for the heavyweight championship of the world - Ali vs Foreman in Zaire in 1974. Then there was "the fight" - Ali vs Frazier at Madison Square Garden in New York. Again, it was the two biggest names in the sport squaring off for the undisputed championship of the world.
My memory may be hazy, but fights like Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson in the early 2000s also seemed to be for the world title.
That word "undisputed" does not apply now. There has been talk about unifying the different belts - but that's all it seems to be. If Parker beats Joshua and becomes the IBF champion does that make him better than Tyson Fury or Wladimir Klitschko?
And what about the other names bandied about - Deontay Wilder, David Haye, Kubrat Pulev, Luis Ortiz or Alexander Povetkin, for instance.
When Parker and Barry were in Christchurch for their bout against Solomon Haumono they were asked: "Where exactly do you see yourselves in the world right now?"
The answer? Top 10.
Not very helpful really - it's where in the top 10 that matters. They were asked to be more precise, but answers were not forthcoming from a team that usually excels in being forthcoming.
Duco are extremely slick operators. Fight night in Christchurch appeared to go without a hitch, with 5000 people packed into Horncastle Arena and ringside seats available at about $400 a pop. They love to promote boxing and don't shy away from controversy.
For instance, after the Parker fight there was the furore over whether referee Bruce McTavish was accurate with his standing 10 count, before ruling that Haumono was KOed. Duco did not suddenly turn into media prevention officers like many organisations would (who mentioned the All Blacks?) - they embraced it.
Even the referee himself was made available to the media to explain himself, and all the boxers got their chance to put their opinions forward so that fans could make up their minds. It was transparent and refreshingly open - and just a bit trashy all at the same time.
Duco is of the mind that any publicity around Parker is great for creating profile and ultimately getting bums on seats and/or paying $39 every time he boxes. They are a business - and proud of it.
In recent times they have subsidised the costs for media outlets that travel to the US to do stories on their protégé, and often supply their own footage of Parker to media to ensure that he is part of the sporting conversation.
Parker is now heading to London for a showdown with Anthony Joshua later this year or early next. The Duco marketing machine work hard to make Parker the people's champion - and if Christchurch is any indication, it is working a treat.
Now he has to do the job inside the ring. His 20 and 0 record says a lot and his jab is a massive weapon - others have praised the variety of his punches. But despite flooring Haumono in the fourth round he is not the biggest puncher in the world right now, and defensively he says he has to improve.
But then again he is just 24 - and in so many ways is unrecognisable from the fighter that last fought in Christchurch at the Hornby Workingmen's Club in 2013.
Newshub.
