Boxing: Dunedin could form a profitable partnership

Tyson Fury might decide he wants to regain his WBO belt. Photo / AP

Joseph Parker's fighting odyssey could take him to London, Las Vegas, Auckland, or even Dunedin next.

He is likely to stay busy, win or lose. A defeat would see him re-group but potentially build to another title shot in about two years. A victory makes him hot property and opens up several lucrative opportunities around the world, but also in New Zealand.

His promoter David Higgins, from Duco Events, will consult with his business partner Dean Lonergan tomorrow, and there are several options available should Parker win, including a defence of his WBO title against Hughie Fury, cousin of Tyson, who vacated the belt.

"After the fight we assess every option on a whiteboard," Higgins told the Herald on Sunday. "Option one might be 'go to London and fight Hughie Fury', option two might be 'Tyson Fury wants his belt back and where do you put that, England or New Zealand?' Option three might be 'go to the United States with Bob Arum and do something there'.

"Option four would be to defend in New Zealand. The pay-per-view broadcast in England would be at 11am over there - perfect timing."

If a title defence were to be held here, either local or central government - and possibly both - would have to chip in financially. Despite the profile available to a global television audience, central government and Auckland Council were reluctant to do so this time. Samoa showed no such hesitation and handed over more than $NZ100,000 for the chance to showcase the best of the country.

Higgins said a partnership with a New Zealand city - perhaps Dunedin, where a fight could be held at Forsyth Barr Stadium - would reap benefits.

"I think New Zealand's governments should take notice. The boxing fan travels. If Hughie Fury fought in New Zealand, you'd get 10,000 fans travelling to support him and because it's such a long way they'd stay in New Zealand for seven nights at least. They might spend $300 a day, so that's $21 million of GDP. If you put that in front of, say Dunedin Council ... it makes a hosting fee of a couple of million bucks look like good business - not wasted ratepayers' money - but a good commercial return for the ratepayer.

"I like the idea of defending in New Zealand. It's worked so far."

"If Joe loses, it's straight back on the horse. The worst thing you can do is have a sook or cry about it and stop training and eat and get fat.

"The good thing about Joe is he's only 24. Heavyweights don't reach their prime until they're 30. He could have four title shots by the time he's 30 and that's why I believe he'll be heavyweight champion because look how good he is now.

"We've proven that getting a world title shot isn't voodoo, this is by design: calculated steps the whole three years."