Kiwi promoter David Higgins has thrown down the gauntlet to British heavyweights Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora, challenging them to come to New Zealand to face Joseph Parker.
The Kiwi heavyweight has earnt respect – and big money – on British soil with his fights against Hughie Fury, Anthony Joshua and Whyte.
But Higgins has voiced his concerns that his boxer doesn’t get a fair shake when fighting abroad.
“All we want is a level playing field,” Higgins said to Stuff.co.nz. “Joseph Parker has been to the UK three times and all three times there have been officiating controversies.
“We are asking them to be honourable and provide a level playing field for the first time. Furthermore, we’ll lay down the gauntlet … why don’t they come to New Zealand to fight Joseph Parker?
“They will make an excuse like the money is in Britain but a pay-per-view fight here would run at 10am in the UK with no competition from football on TV. Perfect timing.
“So stop making excuses, show you have a spine and come to New Zealand and fight Joseph Parker.
“Unlike the English boxers, Joe is willing to travel across the world and fight anyone in their own back yard like the good old days.
“These Englishmen, they barely leave their country, if ever, and clearly their officiating needs work. From our experience, it has been a disgrace.”
Earlier this month Higgins knocked back an offer to fight Chisora at London’s O2 Arena on April 20 after he felt his team weren’t being given enough time to complete a full training camp in preparation for the bout.
“We were clear with Eddie Hearn and David Haye and their massive bank balances trying to run things on their terms that we wanted a 10 or 11 week camp. That had been discussed for five long weeks with promises of a contract,” Higgins continued.
“I think it was a proactive, purposeful attempt to minimise Joe’s camp while Chisora has been training, giving them an unfair advantage.
“We already know the officiating was probably not going to be fair so we wouldn’t run a short camp on top of that.”
Higgins insists his side are open to a rematch with Whyte, who defeated Parker by decision at the O2 Arena last July.
“We have called out Dillian Whyte and he won’t even respond. Why? Because Dillian knows he got lucky with poor officiating and stole a win,” he said.
