This is boxing, so a lot of what is said has to be taken with a grain of salt.
Therefore, talk of Joseph Parker fighting under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium appears to be a stretch, at best.
Promoter David Higgins, from Duco Events, told the Herald on Sunday over the weekend, that Parker’s next fight could be anywhere and Dunedin was suggested.
A rematch with Andy Ruiz looks likely — probably in the United States — but Parker’s next fight could be in any corner of the globe, including Dunedin.
He may, though, fight former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury or his cousin Hughie Fury in New Zealand or the United States or head off to fight another boxer — not Ruiz — stateside.
A fight was possible in New Zealand and local and central government would be expected to contribute financially, Higgins said.
He said a partnership with a New Zealand city — perhaps Dunedin, where a fight could be held at Forsyth Barr Stadium — would reap benefits for the city.
"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," he said.
"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."
But do not go booking the tickets yet. It is perhaps not that simple and nothing in boxing is ever what it seems.
Dunedin Venues Management Ltd marketing and communications manager Kim Barnes said no contact had been made with boxing promoters and any proposal would have to be considered on its merits.
