Joseph Parker-Hughie Fury bout struggling to sell tickets - Arum claims

Joseph Parker during a training session in London. Photosport

Joseph Parker's New Zealand promoter David Higgins is not concerned about a claim that the WBO world heavyweight title fight against Hughie Fury his failing to attract fans.

Little over a week out from the bout in Manchester, boxing promoter Bob Arum claims not even 3,000 tickets have been sold. The capacity for the venue is up to 21,000 for a boxing bout.

Arum told the Radio Sport Breakfast, Fury's promoter Mick Hennessy is doing a poor job.

"That's what happens when you deal with amateurs," Parker's American promoter said.

"The people in the UK who are promoting it are not the top level of promoters."

Higgins, a director of Duco, told Radio Sport he's heard mixed reports about ticket sales.

"There's a lot of rumour in boxing. So Arum does say it's around that figure, the Fury camp are telling me it's a lot more than that so I don't know what to believe," he said.

"Our concern is Duco and Joseph Parker we have a seven-figure chunk of money in our lawyer's bank account and we have the New Zealand television rights. How many tickets they sell in Manchester is their business."

Arum says he has told Higgins Parker should have his next fight in the US.

"I've told David, let me do Parker's next fight in the United States, let me put it on a big network like ESPN and everyone will know who Parker is. You need promotion. Nobody knows who Parker is in the UK or the United States.

"You don't get notoriety coming from a relatively small country like New Zealand through osmosis. You need to have people see you perform."

Arum says it doesn't matter how Parker does against Fury, nobody will see it he claims. Arum added he is also concerned that there is an English referee for the bout.