Hall of fame promoter, Frank Warren, has taken aim at Joseph Parker and Sky Sports in his recent column in the build-up to the former world champion’s fight with Joe Joyce.
Despite being first announced in April at Wembley during Tyson Fury’s recent fight with Dillian Whyte, the heavyweight clash between Joyce and Parker had yet to be signed with negotiations still underway.
Now four months later, which in the meantime has seen Warren’s heavyweight return to the ring with a win against Christian Hammer as well as Parker inking a new promotional deal with Sky, the two men have sealed a deal to fight on September 24 in Manchester, live on BT Sport Box Office.
Despite it now being confirmed, with Joyce being on the so called ‘A-side’, Warren is still vocal on the South Auckland native’s reasoning for thinking he is the main man heading into the bout.
The veteran promoter had this to say in his online column this week–
“Parker’s reasoning that he wanted to be the A-side doesn’t really stack up.”
“I hope he does get to enjoy a few promotional perks with Sky, but being the A-side – in most cases – revolves around being the home fighter, the one who will drive ticket sales and television viewership.”
“As much as he has likely made himself at home in Morecambe, Parker’s home market is New Zealand and putting him in with anybody other than a comparable Brit is always going to be a hard sell over here.”
Parker fought 19 of his first 23 fights in his homeland of New Zealand, with five of his last ten being fought in his new home of the UK, featuring his bouts with Hughie Fury, Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte, and twice against Derek Chisora.
Moving to Morecambe in 2021 to work closely with new trainer Andy Lee, Parker had recently confirmed his intentions to remain in Britain and by signing promotional allegiance to Boxxer, fighting on Sky Sports.
The broadcast move looked to have put the heavyweight war between Joyce and Parker in jeopardy due to the rarity of UK promotional giants working together, but a deal was finally made.
Warren never seemed to doubt that the fight would eventually materialise however, believing the lack of depth in Sky’s Box Office artillery has worn thin since the departure of Anthony Joshua to DAZN.
“Sky wanted to have themselves a piece of the heavyweight pie following Anthony Joshua’s forthcoming departure from the network, but unless they can match him with viable British contenders moving forward, that Box Office gravy train is done, for now.
“And there weren’t really any other attractive options on the horizon, which was why I was convinced Joyce-Parker would quickly come back into play.”
“The fact that it has is good news for everybody because it was the fight to make and it makes perfect sense for all parties.”