WBA/IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will meet WBO Champion Joseph Parker on March 31st in Cardiff, Wales, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I would like to announce the official news that myself and Joseph Parker will be fighting on March 31 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff,” Joshua said on Sunday. “It is a unification heavyweight championship fight. We all know what happened last time I was in a unification heavyweight championship fight. It was grueling, it was interesting and we both left the ring with masses of respect.”

“Anthony Joshua is in for a huge shock,” Parker said. “A couple of months ago I heard him say, ‘Why should I be worried about this little kid from New Zealand?’ Well, now he’s about to find out. And the world is about to find out whether AJ can really take a punch. My entire existence is now devoted to proving what the boxing world already knows.”

“These fights aren’t easy because there is a lot on the line, so respect to Team Parker for taking the challenge,” Joshua said. “And you know me, I love this game. I am looking forward to it. Training camp is underway and before you know it, March 31 will be upon us.”

“I’m delighted to get this fight made — it’s been a long time coming,” Hearn said. “Champions should fight champions and AJ continues to step up to the challenges. It’s the first time in history that two reigning heavyweight world champions have met in Britain, and it’s a classic matchup between two young, fast, undefeated belt holders and it’s going to be an explosive fight. This is another huge unification fight for Anthony as he continues to make history in the quest to become undisputed world heavyweight champion.”

“Eddie has been great to work with from day one,” Higgins said. “I know we ruffled a few feathers along the way but, as Eddie acknowledged, when you come from a small country and people perceive you as a small player, sometimes you’ve got to make a bit of noise. New Zealand might be a tiny country on the other side of the world, but it has a hugely proud sporting tradition — and a particularly strong tradition when it comes to whipping mother England.

“Joseph Parker is the absolute epitome of the Kiwi sporting battler. It has been said that he is punching above his weight, but he didn’t become WBO heavyweight champion by being lucky. He’s never been stopped, never even been wobbled in the ring. He’s consistently fought fighters in the world’s top 10 and he’s beaten them all easily. It certainly won’t be a shock to me when he beats Anthony Joshua and takes his titles back home to New Zealand.”

The unification bout between WBA/IBF Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and WBO champion Joseph Parker is close to being finalized, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I’m on my way to London because it looks like we are close enough to board this plane and to go see Eddie Hearn in person so we can fine-tune the details and put the finishing touches on this deal,” Parker co=promoter David Higgins told ESPN on Sunday night — Monday afternoon in his home country of New Zealand — as he waited for his flight to take off.

“In boxing, some camps haggle and argue over trivial stuff, and it gets in the way of fights,” Higgins said. “They have petty arguments. Eddie is more like me in that he’s straightforward, and based on the negotiations that we have had to date, we can close out the final details and get an announcement in about a week. There are just a few minor things, co-promotional stuff that we’re working on. We’re dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.”

“When it comes to the major things in this deal, we are already on the same page,” Higgins said. “Everything is positive, so I am going to London with confidence that we will wrap this up and have a big fight.”

“The discussions for the American television broadcaster are going on right now, but the fight will have a major television outlet in the United States,” Higgins said.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, a unification bout between heavyweight champion’s Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker is close to being finalized.

“The fight has never been closer. We’re a lot closer now to a deal because we’ve had a major breakthrough, which is that the two camps have formally agreed on the split,” Parker’s co-promoter David Higgins told ESPN in a phone interview from his home country of New Zealand. “The Joshua side made a small concession, and the Parker side has made a small concession.”

“It’s between 30 and 35-ish percent for the Parker side,” Higgins said. “I’ll leave it at that for now, but it’s somewhere close to the middle of that. Maybe after Eddie and I talk about it, we will make the figure public.”

“My gut feeling is there will be a deal. We’re only haggling over officials,” he said. “We’ll have to have a discussion with the British Boxing Board of Control [which regulates the sport in the U.K.]. I’m also happy to have the sanctioning bodies nominate a pool of officials. But even with that, we’re very close to a deal.”

“I think that’s fair,” Higgins said of the rematch clause. “Should Parker win, there’d be a rematch, and I think that’s fair because, commercially, Joshua is the A-side of the fight.”

“Eddie and I get on well,” Higgins said. “I found him to be smart, and we have a banter and humor between us. He doesn’t have an ego problem. I like working with people like Eddie Hearn. Both sides have given concessions. We respect them.”

“The goal is to get it done as soon as possible,” Higgins said.

MANCHESTER, UK (September 22, 2017) – The eight principal fighters for tomorrow night’s Parker vs. Fury Pay-Per-View card all made weight at today'(see below). Tensions erupt when Fury pushed Parker during the traditional face-off and members of both teams went at it before security broke up the altercation.

In a battle of undefeated heavyweight, World Boxing Organization (WBO) Heavyweight World Champion Joseph Parker (23-8, 18 KOs) defends his title against WBO No. 1 contender Hughie Fury (20-0, 10 KOs), airing on Pay Per View in the United States (3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT start), live from Manchester Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.

“Parker vs. Fury”, promoted by Hennessey Sports, is presented in the United States by Integrated Sports Media and Protocol Sports Marketing, Ltd., in conjunction with an internet-based YouTube PPV that is available at www.youtube.com/parkerfury.

Integrated Sports Media will distribute “Parker vs. Fury” live in the United States on cable and satellite PPV via iN Demand, Vubiquity, Sling TV and DISH for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

Outside of North America, “Parker vs. Fury” is being distributed to broadcasters worldwide by leading boxing television rights distribution firm, Protocol Sports Marketing Ltd.

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

MAIN EVENT – WORLD BOXING ORGANIZATION HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (12)
Joseph Parker(23-0, 18 KOs), Champion, Las Vegas, NV, USA by way of New Zealand 245 lbs.
vs.
Hughie Fury (20-0, 10 KOs), No.1 mandatory contender, Stockport, UK 234 lbs.

CO-FEATURE — BBBOFC BRITISH BANTANWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (12)
Josh Wale (24-9, 11 KOs), Barnsley, UK 117 lbs.
vs.
Don Broadhurst (19-3-1 (4 Kos), Birmingham, UK 118 lbs.

VACANT WBO INTERCONTINENTAL SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (12)
“Jimmy” Kilrain Kelley (21-2, 9 KOs), Manchester, UK 154 lbs.
vs.
Stiliyan “Still Kill” Kostov (21-7, 16 KOs), Razgrad, Bulgaria 153 lbs.

LIGHTWEIGHTS (10)
Joe Murray (21-2, 9 KOs), Manchester, UK 137 lbs.
vs.
Matty Fagan (11-2, 0 KOs), Chester, UK 136 lbs.

All and/or highlights of additional PPV fights will air pending time restraints.

Fights and fighters subject to change.

INFORMATION:
www.integratedsportsnet.com, www.protocolsports.com

Twitter: @IntegratedPPV
ABOUT INTEGRATED SPORTS MEDIA: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed-Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Ricky Hatton, Christian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Kahn, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, and Ruslan Chagaev. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches showcasing teams like Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA, as well as World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.

ABOUT PROTOCOL SPORTS MARKETING LTD.: Protocol Sports Marketing is the world’s leading distributor of live-via-satellite and tape delayed boxing events. Since marketing its first live broadcast in 2009, the company has developed a strong, transparent and integrity-driven bond with rights holders, promoters and other Boxing stakeholders. Fuelling Protocol’s success has been its singular passion to re-establish Boxing to past heights, and its efforts have successfully increased both the number of international broadcasters who license Boxing and the amount of Boxing telecasts that they license. The hundreds of live and taped telecasts that Protocol Sports has historically distributed to broadcasters contain a vast majority of the fan-friendly fighters of the past decade, and the company prides itself on identifying and presenting emerging Boxing stars, early in their careers, to TV channels around the world. For more information on events distributed by Protocol Sports Marketing, visit www.protocolsports.com.

Main Event – World Boxing Organization Heavyweight World Championship (12)
JOSEPH PARKER (23-0, 18 KOs), Champion, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA by way of New Zealand
vs.
HUGHIE FURY (20-0, 10 KOs), No.1 mandatory contender, Manchester, UK

Co-Feature – Vacant WBO Intercontinental Super Welterweight Championship (12)
JIMMY “Kilrain” KELLEY (21-2, 9 KOs), Manchester, UK
vs.
STILLIYAN “Still Kill” KOSTOV (21-7, 16 KOs), Razgrad, Bulgaria

All and/or highlights of additional PPV fights will air pending time restraints.

Fights and fighters subject to change.

WHEN:Saturday, September 23, 2017 – 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT

WHERE: Manchester Arena, Manchester, UK

PROMOTER: Hennessy Sports

PPV:Integrated Sports Media (ISM) will distribute “Parker vs. Fury” live in the United States on cable and satellite PPV via iN Demand, Vubiquity, and DISH, in conjunction with an internet-based YouTube PPV that is available at www.youtube.com/parkerfury, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

Outside of North America, “Parker vs. Fury” is being distributed to broadcasters worldwide by leading boxing television rights distribution firm, Protocol Sports Marketing Ltd.

INFORMATION:
www.integratedsportsnet.com, www.protocolsports.com

Twitter: @IntegratedPPV
ABOUT INTEGRATED SPORTS MEDIA: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed-Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Ricky Hatton, Christian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Kahn, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, and Ruslan Chagaev. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches showcasing teams like Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA, as well as World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.

ABOUT PROTOCOL SPORTS MARKETING LTD.: Protocol Sports Marketing is the world’s leading distributor of live-via-satellite and tape delayed boxing events. Since marketing its first live broadcast in 2009, the company has developed a strong, transparent and integrity-driven bond with rights holders, promoters and other Boxing stakeholders. Fuelling Protocol’s success has been its singular passion to re-establish Boxing to past heights, and its efforts have successfully increased both the number of international broadcasters who license Boxing and the amount of Boxing telecasts that they license. The hundreds of live and taped telecasts that Protocol Sports has historically distributed to broadcasters contain a vast majority of the fan-friendly fighters of the past decade, and the company prides itself on identifying and presenting emerging Boxing stars, early in their careers, to TV channels around the world. For more information on events distributed by Protocol Sports Marketing, visit www.protocolsports.com.

London (18 September 2017) Hennessy Sports is delighted to announce that Televideo will be the outside broadcast and facilities provider for the WBO World Heavyweight Championship event on Saturday 23rd September at the Manchester Arena.

In the headline attraction, Manchester’s undefeated Hughie Fury, the WBO Mandatory and number one ranked challenger, faces Parker, the hard-hitting and unbeaten WBO World Champion, that is available to watch exclusively live on YouTube (www.youtube.com/parkerfury).

Televideo are one of the world’s leading outside broadcast and facilities companies who work with a number of premier sports TV broadcasters including Sky Sports, BBC and Eurosport.

In addition, Televideo have been the host broadcaster for major stand-alone events including World Championship boxing, England v Kazakhstan World Cup qualifier, the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, the ISU World Speed Skating Championships and the FINA Diving World Series.

Televideo’s James Mitchell will be in charge of the Outside Broadcast with BAFTA and RTS award winning Producer/Director as Executive Producer. On the night the UK’s most experienced boxing producer Jim Bentley will be shaping the show alongside experienced director Dave Horridge.

Promoter Mick Hennessy said, “I’m delighted that one of the world’s leading TV broadcast and facilities provider will be producing the event on the night and it will be a first class presentation. With John Watts’ outstanding reputation and credentials in the TV business and his vast experience and knowledge in boxing, along with the team he has assembled, it will be a really special production.”

London (14 September 2017) Hennessy Sports today announced that the YouTube broadcast of The WBO World Heavyweight Championship between Joseph Parker and Hughie Fury will be available in 23 countries, with more to be announced.

Parker v Fury headlines an action-packed card at the Manchester Arena on Saturday 23rd September, exclusively live on YouTube (www.youtube.com/parkerfury) with a portion of the undercard available for free.

A number of key territories will show the big heavyweight showdown exclusively live on YouTube, including America, Canada and Mexico, plus Argentina, Hong Kong and Italy in a fight that has gone global with its appeal.

The full list of countries confirmed so far are (go to www.youtube.com/parkerfury for further details):

Argentina
Austria
Bosnia
Canada
Cost Rica
Ecuador
Germany
Spain
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Netherlands
South Korea
Mexico
Porgtual
Romania
Slovakia
Taiwan
US
UK

Hennessy Sports’ groundbreaking and innovative partnership with YouTube (which is the world’s biggest provider of online content) offers an exciting new way of watching boxing that will reach to a global audience; bring in younger viewers and attract a new generation of boxing fans.

Promoter Mick Hennessy, CEO of Hennessy Sports, said, “When we made the decision to partner with YouTube in this pioneering deal I knew that this fight had all the ingredients that would make it appeal globally. We are in a world of increasingly “anytime, anywhere” viewing of video content and with YouTube’s unparalleled reach to over 1.5 billion viewers globally this fight will really capture the world’s attention.”

***PROMOTIONAL VIDEO***
Watch the new YouTube fight promo here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF0fqPBNCjI

You can embed the promo to your page with the following embed code:

***FREE LIVE UNDERCARD TO EMBED***

In the build-up to the main event Parker v Fury, Hennessy Sports and YouTube have made the action-packed undercard available and free-to-watch, simply embed the following code to your page:

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6sPF2HABDU

Embed code:

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Where will the fight night be shown?
The whole show will be available on YouTube.com/ParkerFury on September 23rd 2017 from 6pm. Users should head to youtube.com/ParkerFury today and subscribe for free so as not to miss out in the pre-fight build up. On the night, there will a portion of the undercard free-to-view in the event build-up before switching over to the main event and the rest of the card on PPV.

How can fans buy the fight?
Fans in the UK can as of now buy the fight in three quick and simple steps

How to purchase videos for desktop and laptop users here

How to purchase video for iPhone, iPad, iOS users here

Users will have to sign up for a YouTube / Google account, if they don’t have one already, which is easily done through http://accounts.google.com/signup

Once signed in, fans should head to http://www.youtube.com/ParkerFury where they
will see a link to the PPV live stream. Click that video.

Fans will be prompted to pay for the event – which is carried out through Google
Payments. Simply add your payment details and purchase the fight. This can be viewed
on any one device which the user is signed into.

Will there be support available for fans?
Google will have a support team available for any issues and refunds on the night, options for support are listed on http://www.youtube.com/purchases once the purchase has been made.”

TENAFLY, N.J.(September 14, 2017) – A pair of undefeated heavyweights will face-off on Saturday afternoon, September 23, as World Boxing Organization (WBO) Heavyweight World Champion Joseph Parker takes on WBO No. 1 contender Hughie Fury, airing on Pay Per View in the United States, starting at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT, live from Manchester Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.

“Parker vs. Fury”, promoted by Hennessy Sports, is presented in the United States by Integrated Sports Media and Protocol Sports Marketing, Ltd., in conjunction with an internet-based YouTube PPV that is available at www.youtube.com/parkerfury..

Integrated Sports Media will distribute “Parker vs. Fury” live in the United States on cable and satellite PPV via iN Demand, Vubiquity, and DISH for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

Outside of North America, “Parker vs. Fury” is being distributed to broadcasters worldwide by leading boxing television rights distribution firm, Protocol Sports Marketing Ltd.

“The Heavyweight Championship of the World is still the biggest priize in sport and it can capture the imagination of the public like no other sport,” promoter Mick Hennessy said. “In my career as a promoter, this is right up there and very personal to me, and we look forward to delivering a fantastic event for the fans.”

Parker (23-0, 18 KOs) and Fury (20-0, 10 KOs) have a combined record of a prefect 43-0 with 28 knockouts. Parker succeeded Fury’s unbeaten cousin, Tyson Fury, who vacated the WBO heavyweight title in 2016.

The 25-year-old Parker, fighting out of New Zealand by way of Las Vegas, captured the vacant WBO heavyweight title in 2016, taking a 12-round majority decision from previously undefeated Andy Ruiz, Jr. (29-0) in New Zealand. Parker, who stands 6′ 4″, made his first world title defense this past May in New Zealand, winning a 12-round unanimous decision over Razvan Cojanu (16-2).

Parker’s other notable victims include Frans Botha, Brian Minto, Sherman Williams, Jason Pettaway, Kali Meehan, Carlos Takam and Alexander Dimitrenko.

“I’m excited that the next defense of my WBO World title will be in England because it is now the home of heavyweight boxing and I need to be fighting there regularly,” Parker remarked. “Fighting away from home holds no fears for me. I will arrive having previously fought on the undercard of a Wladimir Klitschko world title fight in Germany, also twice in America. I believe that with so many Kiwis and Samoans living in the UK, I may even have more supporters in the crowd on fight night than Hughie Fury.”

Fury has fully recovered from the back injury that postponed the original May 6 date for him to challenge Parker to Sept. 23 in Manchester.

In 2012, Fury became the first British super heavyweight to capture a gold medal at the World Youth Amateur Boxing Championships and he hasn’t missed a beat as a professional since making his pro debut in 2013.

The 6′ 6″ Fury, who celebrates his 23rd birthday on Sept. 18, will be fighting at home in Manchester. Last year in his two most recent fights, both in London, Fury won a 10-round unanimous decision against former U.S. amateur standout Dominick Guinn (35-10-1), as well as a seven-round technical decision over Fred Kassi (18-4-1).

“I’ve waited so long for this chance and my team have worked very hard to get me this fight,” Fury commented. “I’d like to thank everyone involved. I’m going to shock the world and prove all my doubters wrong and what better place to do it than in my home city of Manchester. Parker is a good fighter and I’ve no doubt we’ll both bring our A-game on fight night. I can’t wait to be crowned world champion.

“Parker is the biggest challenge of my life and he will bring the very best out of me, but I aim to deliver a knockout performance. I’ve prepared like never-before for this fight and pushed myself to the limits and beyond. There’s no way Parker is leaving Manchester with that World title. I will do everything to make sure that belt stays here with me.”

Also airing live is the 12-round vacant WBO Intercontinental super welterweight title fight between hometown hero Jimmy “Kilrain” Kelly (21-2, 9 KOs) and Stilliyan “Still Kill” Kostov (21-7, 16 KOs), of Bulgaria.

All and/or highlights of additional PPV fights will air pending time restraints.

Fights and fighters subject to change.

INFORMATION:
www.integratedsportsnet.com, www.protocolsports.com

Twitter: @IntegratedPPV
ABOUT INTEGRATED SPORTS MEDIA: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed-Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Ricky Hatton, Christian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Kahn, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, and Ruslan Chagaev. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches showcasing teams like Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA, as well as World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.

ABOUT PROTOCOL SPORTS MARKETING LTD.: Protocol Sports Marketing is the world’s leading distributor of live-via-satellite and tape delayed boxing events. Since marketing its first live broadcast in 2009, the company has developed a strong, transparent and integrity-driven bond with rights holders, promoters and other Boxing stakeholders. Fuelling Protocol’s success has been its singular passion to re-establish Boxing to past heights, and its efforts have successfully increased both the number of international broadcasters who license Boxing and the amount of Boxing telecasts that they license. The hundreds of live and taped telecasts that Protocol Sports has historically distributed to broadcasters contain a vast majority of the fan-friendly fighters of the past decade, and the company prides itself on identifying and presenting emerging Boxing stars, early in their careers, to TV channels around the world. For more information on events distributed by Protocol Sports Marketing, visit www.protocolsports.com.

London (5 September 2017) Hennessy Sports is delighted to announce a groundbreaking partnership with YouTube that will offer a new way of watching Boxing.

The blockbuster WBO World Heavyweight Championship title fight between Joseph Parker and Hughie Fury on Saturday 23rd September at the Manchester Arena will be shown exclusively live in the UK and Ireland on YouTube (www.youtube.com/parkerfury) on a pay-per-view basis with further countries to be announced shortly.

A portion of the undercard will also be streamed for free before the big fight, this is also available live on www.youtube.com/parkerfury. Watch this event anywhere online or on your smart TV, game console, PC, Mac, mobile, tablet and more for a special advance purchase offer price of only £9.99 in the UK and €11.99 in the Republic of Ireland until midnight on Sunday 17th September.*

www.youtube.com/parkerfury is the home of Hennessy Sports YouTube Channel which is called The Boxing Channel presented by Hennessy Sports.

This represents fantastic value for money to watch one of Britain and Ireland’s most exciting young talents challenging for the prestigious World Heavyweight title at half the price of regular Pay-Per-View events and viewers can watch live at a fan-friendly UK and Ireland prime-time.

With 1.5 billion viewers globally, Hennessy Sports believes that partnering with YouTube (which is the world’s biggest provider of online video content) could prove to be a pivotal change in the sport’s landscape.

Through the years boxing has been delivered to fans via the traditional route of TV and after receiving numerous offers from TV broadcasters for the event, promoter Mick Hennessy, CEO of Hennessy Sports, has made the bold and visionary move to partner with YouTube.

Hennessy believes this will take Parker v Fury to a global audience; bring in younger viewers
and attract a new generation of fans to the sport with the wide range of devices that the fight can be viewed on.

Hennessy said: “The Heavyweight Championship of the World is still the biggest prize in sport and can capture the imagination of the public like no other sport. For Fury v Parker, we decided to make this event innovative, forward thinking and really push out the boundaries. We’ve been talking to YouTube for months about bringing Boxing to a wider audience through their platform, and are delighted to have found a way to achieve this. The way TV viewing is consumed has altered rapidly in the last few years and we wanted to be at the forefront of that change in presenting this fight. As a company, Hennessy Sports, is proud to be playing such a pivotal role in transforming the way in which live boxing content is televised. This is the future of boxing. I’d like to thank our Board and Shareholders for their continued support in helping us to reach this milestone. Finally, I’d like to thank Peter and Hughie Fury for their great foresight in partnering with us on this exciting journey.”

Tomos Grace, Head of Sport for Europe, Middle East & Africa at YouTube, said, “YouTube allows sports partners of every size to reach a large, global audience. YouTube is the home of sport highlights worldwide and we have a proud record of showing some of the biggest events in global sport live on the platform. We’re delighted that Hennessy Sports have chosen YouTube to show this massive World Heavyweight title fight.”

The production of the event will be produced by one of the global leaders of sport and live event programming to ensure a premium and world class presentation.

Hennessy Sports also today announces a new collaboration with Little Dot Studios, a next generation broadcaster and producer, creating and distributing sports and television content across all major social platforms, achieving over 2.5 billion views every month.

Little Dot Studios will manage Hennessy Sports’ YouTube Channel, “The Boxing Channel presented by Hennessy Sports” and will work with Hennessy Sports to grow its YouTube audience, strengthening its online and social identity and turn The Boxing Channel presented by Hennessy Sports into a primary destination for boxing content on YouTube. Little Dot Studios will create content from Hennessy Sports archive of boxing matches, publishing clips and highlights, as well as producing content in the buildup to the Parker vs Fury fight, including live YouTube streams of the pre-fight press conferences, open workouts and the weigh in, in the lead up to the fight on 23rd September 2017 live on YouTube.

Wayne Davison, the Managing Director, Content Acquisition and Distribution, of Little Dot Studios, said: “We are really excited to be working with Hennessy Sports and YouTube in this unique evolution for viewing live boxing. Little Dot Studios are in a distinct position to reach new and existing audiences on The Boxing Channel presented by Hennessy Sports on YouTube in the run up to the Parker v Fury fight, and to create great content and build a destination that fans will continue to engage with.”

Undefeated Fury is thrilled that his challenge for the world heavyweight crown is breaking new ground and that he is part of an exciting history-making event.

Fury said, “This is great news for fight fans who can now watch my world heavyweight title challenge against Parker exclusively live on YouTube in the UK and Ireland. I’m thrilled and proud to be part of an historic event that will be remembered in years to come as a defining moment in the sport. I’m grateful to Hennessy Sports and YouTube for this fantastic opportunity to showcase my talent. Parker is the biggest challenge of my life and he will bring the very best out of me, but I aim to deliver a knockout performance for YouTube viewers who will see me lift the WBO World title at the end of the fight.”

Peter Fury, father and world class trainer of Hughie, added, “I’m thrilled that the fight will be shown live on YouTube in an innovative move that will bring a whole new audience to our sport. I’m proud that my son will be challenging for the WBO Heavyweight Championship of the World in his home city in what will be a great fight that I believe will see Hughie crowned World Champion live in front of YouTube viewers.”

PRESS CONFERENCE
A press conference will be scheduled in London on Wednesday 13th September, this will also be streamed exclusively live on our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/parkerfury More details will follow shortly.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Where will the fight night be shown?
The whole show will be available on www.youtube.com/parkerfury on September 23rd 2017 from 6pm. Users should head to www.youtube.com/parkerfury today and subscribe for free so as not to miss out in the pre-fight build up. On the night, there will a portion of the undercard free-to-view in the event build-up before switching over to the main event and the rest of the card on PPV.

How can fans buy the fight?
Fans in the UK can as of now buy the fight in three quick and simple steps through www.youtube.com on any web browser (mobile, tablet, desktop).

1) Users who have a Google/YouTube account should simply log in. Fans without a Google account should follow the simple login process at http://accounts.google.com/signup

2) Once signed in, fans should head to http://www.youtube.com/parkerfury where they will see a link to the PPV live stream. Click that video.

3) Fans will be prompted to pay for the event – which is carried out through Google Payments. Simply add your payment details and purchase the fight. This can be viewed on any one device which the user is signed into.

Will there be support available for fans?
Google will have a support team on call for any issues and refunds on the night, options for support are listed on http://www.youtube.com/purchases once the purchase has been made.

London (25 August 2017) Manchester star Jimmy ‘Kilrain’ Kelly will contest for the Vacant WBO Intercontinental Super-Welterweight Championship on a massive night of boxing at the Manchester Arena headlined by Hughie Fury’s challenge for the WBO World Heavyweight title against Joe Parker.

Kelly will feature as chief-support on an action-packed card that includes the British Bantamweight Championship showdown between Josh Wale and Don Broadhurst, a cracking British Lightweight Title Eliminator between Joe Murray and Matty Fagan.

The hugely popular Wythenshawe fighter faces hard Bulgarian Stiliyan Kostov over 12-rounds as he looks to reclaim the WBO Intercontinental title to get back into world title contention following his loss in his first attempt to the then WBO World Champion Liam Smith back in December 2015.

A former WBC Youth Champion, Kelly is on an unbeaten 6-fight run since the loss to Smith and a victory over big-hitting Kostov – who’s won 16 out 21 wins by KO – will put him back in pole position for a world title shot.

“It’s one of the biggest fight nights in British boxing this year and I’m thrilled in a title fight as chief support to Hughie’s challenge for the WBO World title,” Said Kelly.

“We’re both Manchester lads and trained in the same club as amateurs so I aim to make it a double on the night with him winning the world title and me capturing the WBO European belt,”

“Winning the title will get me into a great position in the WBO rankings and give me a clearer path towards my second shot at the world title which I believe that I’m ready for again,”

“I’m still only 24 and I’ve learnt plenty since the loss to Smith, it’s been hard work getting myself back up to this position, but I’ve gone six fights unbeaten since and I’m hungrier than ever to get back into world title contention,”

“Kostov can be a dangerous fighter, he can whack a bit and I know that I’ve got to keep on my game and watch that sharp right hand of his. Whilst Kostov has pushed Brian Rose the eight-round distance last year, I’ll be looking to make a strong statement by taking him out before the end.”

Tickets for Parker v Fury are priced at £40, £60, £100, £150, £200, £300 and VIP £600 are available from www.eventim.co.uk

For more information on Parker v Fury www.hennessysports.com; you can follow on all social media @hennessysports and follow the conversation at #ParkerFury

London (2 August 2017) WBO World Heavyweight Title Challenger Hughie Fury is preparing for his massive showdown with Champion Joe Parker by punching on a meat carcass like movie icon Rocky.

Fury has based himself at a spartan-style training camp at Lake Windermere for the big fight on Saturday 23rd September at the Manchester Arena and is using a local abattoir to help with his preparations.

The undefeated 22-year-old has been working on his power and combinations by pounding his fists into a 400lb carcass of beef which was made famous by Sylvester Stallone in the legendary film franchise.

In the first movie, unknown Philadelphian fighter Rocky gets a million-to-one shot at the World Heavyweight Champion Apollo Creed and prepares for his fight by punching meat in an abattoir.

The Manchester hero has been training spartan-style at his training camp at Lake Windermere with arduous mountain runs, log chopping and swimming in freezing lakes with father and trainer Peter watching on and believes this adds another dimension to his training.

“I love different ways of training to keep things fresh and new and when the owner of the abattoir saw us training in the hills we ended up talking and he mentioned about Rocky punching the meat and said I could come and do the same at his place,” Said Fury.

“I jumped at the chance because, one, the carcass of meat weighs nearly 400 pounds and that is one heavy ‘punch bag’ to slam punches into. Two, its makes a much better sound when the fist connects with the meat, just like in a fight and, three, Rocky is one of my favourite all time movies so to do that myself was a bit of thrill,”

“That carcass has Joseph Parker’s face on it when I’m punching the hell out of it and hearing the ribs and bones crack it makes me punch it harder and harder. Just like Rocky, my white hand wraps end up a bloody mess after a twelve round session on the meat.”

“I’m preparing like never before for this fight and pushing myself to the limits and beyond. There’s no way Parker is leaving Manchester with that World title. I will everything to make sure that belt stays here with me.”

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Tickets are priced at £40, £60, £100, £150, £200, £300 and VIP £600 are available from www.eventim.co.uk

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London (28th July) World heavyweight title challenger Hughie Fury has based himself at a spartan-style training camp at Lake Windermere as he heads into the biggest fight of his life against undefeated WBO Champion Joseph Parker.

Fury has returned to the old, tried and tested method of training like legendary world heavyweight champions Muhammad Ali, Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis by setting up camp in the mountains with his father and trainer Peter for his showdown with Parker on Saturday 23rd September at the Manchester Arena.

Whilst thousands of tourists and holiday makers enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the Lake District, Fury is experiencing the flip side and is putting his body and mind through hell in the rough and brutal surrounding terrain to become the first man to beat Parker.

The 22-year-old Manchester star is going through a daily gruelling schedule of long mountain runs and sprints, log chopping, free climbing mountains and lake swimming sessions, alongside sparring and boxing gym session and believes that this will give him the extra edge to become the new WBO World Champion.

“We’ve come up here just to do runs in the past and we’ve always said that this would be a fantastic place to set up a training camp and what better time than now for the world title fight against Parker,” Said Fury, the undefeated WBO mandatory and number one ranked challenger.

“This is absolutely perfect for me, I love the outdoors and the fresh air and the feeling of getting back-to-basics is getting the very best out of me. The greats of boxing like Ali, Dempsey and Louis all did it this way, in modern times we’ve all gone scientific with boxing training, but there’s a lot to be said about training the old way and I feel fitter and stronger than ever before,”

“I’m training at altitude with my some of the mountain runs leaving my lungs burning, I’m pulling tyres attached to my back on uphill sprints, free climbing up the side of mountains that leave my arms and fingers burning and then I’m going for endurance swims and sprints in the freezing lakes,”

“Then there’s the log chopping, it used to be common place for boxers to do this in the past, but it seems to have died out with some boxers going all body beautiful with weights in the gym. It strengthens every muscle in your body from your hamstrings, calves, quads and gluts to your abs, lats, traps, deltoids and pecs while working my cardiovascular endurance,”

“When the hard training is done for the day, then I can just rest and look out at the stunning and peaceful scenery around me, but strangely focus my mind on smashing Parker to bits and tearing the world title away from him,”

“I know that wherever he is training now he’s putting himself through the same to keep hold of his title, but that is pushing me everyday to train twice as hard and go through my physical and mental limits. I know that on the 23rd September he won’t have an answer to what I’ve got.”

Peter is overseeing his son’s training and implementing the fight strategy to defeat the fearsome puncher Parker who has 18 KOs from 23 fights.

He masterfully guided his nephew Tyson to his stunning victory over Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, who had not been defeated in nearly 11 years, to become the Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion and believes Hughie can pull off a similar feat against Parker.

“Ali trained at Deer Lake and many of the greats trained at Big Bear in California, more recently Gennady Golovkin. The benefits are ten-fold training here in Lake Windermere. It’s the best way to train, it’s outdoor, non-polluted, rigorous mountain runs, quarries, tree and log chopping, lakes for swimming, it’s got everything we need. Then we’ve got tremendous indoor facilities as well with the local boxing gym in Windermere and Choices Spa and Health club in Troutbeck Bridge. Hughie will be in the best shape of his life against Parker and more than prepared. Everything thing we do is to win and he’ll be the new WBO World Champion.”

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Tickets are priced at £40, £60, £100, £150, £200, £300 and VIP £600 are available from www.eventim.co.uk

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London (12th July) Tickets are now on sale for the massive heavyweight showdown between WBO World Champion Joseph Parker and the mandatory and #1 challenger Hughie Fury.

Tickets are priced at £40, £60, £100, £150, £200 and £300 and are available from www.eventim.co.uk

Manchester hero Fury aims to cap a massive British summer of sport by defeating the steel-fisted New Zealander at the Manchester Arena on Saturday 23rd September and be crowned the new WBO king in front of his home crowd.

Rarely in boxing, especially in the heavyweight division, do you get two young, undefeated and fiercely proud fighters prepared to risk their world title and unbeaten records, but Parker and Fury are prepared to put everything on the line and battle it out in one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year.

History-making Parker, New Zealand’s first ever world heavyweight champion, makes the second defence of the title against Fury and aims to keep intact his immaculate 23-fight record with 8 knockouts and 12 of those inside three rounds.

Fury aims to claim the WBO belt vacated by his cousin, the former Undisputed, Linear and current Ring Magazine World Heavyweight Champion Tyson, and bring it back into the fold of the famous fighting family. With a perfect record of 20 wins and 10 knockouts with 8 coming inside the first three rounds, Fury is hell-bent on becoming the first man to stop the rock-hard Parker.

Parker v Fury will be the headline attraction on a super fight card that will feature further championship title fights and a quality packed undercard with some of Britain’s top up-and-coming talent.

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Hennessy Sports and Duco Promotions are delighted to announce that the highly anticipated showdown between British and Irish heavyweight star Hughie Fury and the WBO World Heavyweight Champion Joseph Parker will take place on Saturday 23rd September at the Manchester Arena.

Fury, the WBO #1 ranked and mandatory challenger, faces the hard-punching Parker in a thrilling match-up in boxing’s flagship glamour division between the undefeated young stars that has the potential to be one of the Fights of the Year.

Parker, the reigning and unbeaten WBO Champion said, “I’m excited that the next defence of my WBO World Title will be in England because it is now the home of heavyweight boxing and I need to be fighting there regularly. David has done a fantastic job of getting me the deal I want to fight in Manchester. Fighting away from home holds no fears for me. I will arrive having previously fought on the undercard of a Wladimir Klitschko world title fight in Germany and also twice in America. I believe that with so many kiwis and Samoans living in the UK, I may even have more supporters in the crowd on fight night than Hughie Fury.”

Manchester’s Fury said, “I’ve waited so long for this chance and my team have worked very hard to get me this fight and I’d like to thank everyone involved. I’m going to shock the world and prove all my doubters wrong and what better place to do it than in my home city of Manchester. Parker is a good fighter and I’ve no doubt we’ll both bring our A-game on fight night. The fight’s on! I can’t wait to be crowned world champion.”

Hennessy Sports CEO Mick Hennessy, promoter of Fury, said, “We’re absolutely thrilled to secure the fight in Manchester for Hughie and I believe that right now this is the best place in the world for boxing, especially if you’re a heavyweight, which is why Parker is so eager to fight here. In my career as a promoter, this is right up there and very personal to me and we look forward to delivering a fantastic event for the fans. Hughie is an exceptional young talent and I’ve got every confidence that he will become the new WBO World heavyweight Champion.”

Peter Fury, father and trainer of Hughie, said, “Myself and Hughie are very pleased that the fight for the WBO World Title is now signed and even more thrilled the fight’s going to be in Hughie’s home town of Manchester in September. Hughie is a dedicated fighter and will be bringing the belt back home to the Fury family. We are all very excited about the news and training is already under way. Hughie is an outstanding talent in the heavyweight division and at just 22 is a rising star in world boxing and will prove to many on fight night he is one of the best in the world.”

David Higgins from Duco Promotions commented, “Peter and I have been able to bury the hatchet very quickly despite the Furys not coming to New Zealand on May 6. The goodwill between both parties has been such that we were always going to come to a deal which was mutually beneficial. I never once during negotiations felt this fight would end up in purse bid”.

Fury has recovered from the back injury that caused the date of the original fight against Parker on May 6th in Auckland to be postponed and will first feature at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday 8th July before challenging Parker.

He was last in action on April 30th last year when he defeated Fred Kassi to win the WBO Intercontinental title on a seventh round Technical Decision following a clash of heads that opened a bad cut over Fury’s left eye.

The 22-year-old hotshot, cousin of the former Undisputed and current Ring Magazine World Heavyweight Champion Tyson, has a perfect record of 20 wins and 10 knockouts with 8 coming inside the first three rounds.

Aukland’s Parker created history when he became New Zealand’s first ever world heavyweight champion by defeating Andy Ruiz Jr. on points to win the Vacant WBO title in a thrilling night in December last year and become a national hero.

He currently holds an immaculate 23-fight record with 18 knockouts, 12 of those were inside three rounds and has held the WBO Oriental and Africa titles amongst other regional belts.

The 25-year-old defended his title for the first time last month against the tough and awkward Romanian Razvan Conjanu – who replaced the injured Fury – by unanimous decision.

Joseph Parker will defend the WBO Heavyweight title against Hughie Fury on September 23rd in Manchester, England, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I’m very much looking forward to this fight,” Parker said. “It’s been a long time coming but the contract is signed thanks to my promoter David Higgins and I am ready to get going. In the contract is what we want and David has worked very hard to get the contract sorted; and now that it’s ready and the date is confirmed, we’re looking forward to going over to the U.K. and making a statement and putting on a great show.”

“The idea of going to the U.K. is something I am looking forward to and, no, I don’t hold any grudges,” Parker said, referring to Fury’s withdrawal from the fight in May that was supposed to be in New Zealand. “I just go in there, respect my opponent and do what I have to do. That’s go in there and win the fight and defend my title and keep it here [in New Zealand]. The crowd against me? I will use it as energy and motivation to put on a great show and fight hard.

“I know there will be a lot of supporters for [Fury] but I know I [will] put on a great show, and hopefully get him out of there.”

“I’ve never had a close fight. I’ve won every round of every single fight,” Fury said. “I’m going to let my fists do the talking and I’m going to take his belt home with me.”

“[Fury] needs to get this warm-up fight out of the way before he faces Parker later in the year,”Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said. “I am confident that the WBO heavyweight belt will once again be in possession of the Fury family come the end of the year.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBO Heavyweight champion Joseph Parker will defend his title against Razvan Cojanu on May 6th. Cojanu will replace Hughie Fury who had to pull out with an injured back.

London (23rd April 2017) It is with our deepest regret that we have to announce that the WBO World Heavyweight Championship between the Champion, Joseph Parker, and mandatory challenger, Hughie Fury, scheduled for Saturday 6th May 2017 in Auckland, New Zealand, has been postponed.

Hughie has been declared medically unfit to box following a medical assessment. He has suffered an injury to his lower back which has been a serious issue for the last three weeks that has left him unable to train to his full capacity.

Despite receiving intense physiotherapy treatment and his desire to fight for the WBO World title, after seeing his physiotherapist last Friday he has been advised to rest for 3-4 weeks before resuming training.

Understandably, Hughie is devastated by the injury which has temporarily halted his dream of fighting for the World Heavyweight Title, but the fight will be rescheduled and a new date will be announced shortly.

Hughie and Team Fury wish to express their sincerest apologies to Joseph Parker, the WBO, the fans and public in New Zealand and to all the boxing fans around the world who had been looking forward to the highly anticipated fight.

Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions will be making a further detailed statement shortly.

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According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Hughie Fury has withdrawn from his May 6th WBO World Heavyweight title fight with Joseph Parker.

“Duco Events was today notified by the World Boxing Organization that mandatory No. 1 challenger Hughie Fury has an injury and will be unable to challenge champion Joseph Parker for the heavyweight title on May 6th in Auckland,” Duco Events spokesman Craig Stanaway said. “The World Boxing Organization has, therefore, advised Duco Events to investigate the possibility of Joseph Parker making a voluntary defense of his heavyweight title against an opponent ranked in the top 15 of the (WBO) world rankings. Duco Events is currently investigating all options.”

“It’s disappointing to say the least,” Carl Moretti, vice president of Parker’s co-promoter Top Rank, told ESPN. “Have to really wonder if Fury really wanted the opportunity in the first place.”

London (8th March 2017) WBO World Heavyweight mandatory title challenger Hughie Fury will face the champion Joe Parker in Auckland, New Zealand, at the Vector Arena on Saturday 6th May, it was confirmed last night.

Undefeated Fury, from Manchester, will travel to the other side of the world as he looks to cause a massive upset against the similarly unbeaten and big-hitting Parker who is a superstar in his native homeland.

Fury aims to emulate cousin Tyson’s amazing feat of ending the reign of then division king Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015 when he travelled to Germany and tore all the belts from the seemingly invincible Ukrainian.

The hard-hitting and highly-skilled 22-year-old, trained by father Peter, has a perfect record of 20 wins with 10 knockouts in a four-year career and captured the WBO Intercontinental title in his last fight against Fred Kassi. Fury had a glittering amateur career that culminated in winning Gold at the 2012 World Youth Championships – England’s first ever at super-heavyweight.

Parker became New Zealand’s inaugural World Heavyweight Champion when he won the WBO crown in December, defeating the previously unbeaten Andy Ruiz Jr for the vacant title at the Vector Arena with a very tight points decision. The 25-year-old is certainly heavy-handed after winning 18 of his 22 fights by knockout in a near five-year career.

It will be the first time in history that a recognised world heavyweight title has been defended in New Zealand and Parker versus Fury is expected to become the biggest boxing event ever staged in the country, with an expected global audience of over 100m.

Fury is not bothered with the hype and is fully focused on shaking the world up – just like Tyson – by defeating Parker, “I’m really looking forward to it and I just can’t wait! I feel great and I’ll be in the best shape my of life come fight night and you’ll see something special. It doesn’t matter what country the fight’s in, a boxing ring is a boxing ring to me, no matter where in the world. The result will be the same, a Hughie Fury victory and on May 6th you’ll be looking at the new WBO World champion.”

Despite the enormity of the event, Peter is confident that his son will rise against the odds and cause an upset. He said, “I see it as a very competitive fight between two of the best young heavyweights in the world today and the fans and media are certainly going to relish this one. Parker’s the World Champion and we’re going into his territory, but we’re fighting people through and through and this does not bother us. I see my son coming back home with the World Title.”

Mick Hennessy, CEO of Hennessy Sports, is backing his man to return home crowned the new WBO World Champion. He said, “Hughie is an exceptional talent who has been underestimated in his career. I know that the bigger the fight and the bigger the occasion, Hughie will rise to that challenge and Parker will bring out the very best in him. We’re under no illusions, this is a very hard test for Hughie, but I believe he will shine through.”

According to Dan Rafael of espnn.com, heavyweight champions Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker could be headed toward a unification clash this summer should they win their nect bouts.

Wilder takes on Gerlad Washington on Saturday while Parker is scheduled to face Hughie Fury in April.

“We’re not looking past Washington, but I do like looking though my opponents as if I’m window shopping a little bit, looking through the glass at something I want and I can’t get it right now because I’ve got a job to do first,” Wilder said. “So once I beat Washington we really want Parker to get the WBO title so that will leave me with the WBC and the WBO and then [Wladimir] Klitschko and [Anthony] Joshua are fighting for the IBF and the WBA [on April 29]. So at the end of the year you put your two [belts] up, I’ll put my two up and we can unify the whole division.”

“I know Parker’s coming. I’ve been talking to his people. I knew he was coming and that’s gonna be good,” Wilder said. “We’re thinking June, July. That’s what we’re trying to schedule. I think we’re going to take it to Las Vegas, maybe Barclays Center [in Brooklyn, New York]. They’ve wanted me to come back since the [Artur] Szpilka fight [in January 2016]. So I think it will be a great opportunity to come back and present myself in New York, the media capital of the world, but a great thing for Parker as well to get known in America.”

“If it lands in New Zealand, it would be lovely to go over,” Wilder said. “I was willing to go to Russia, I’ve gone to Mexico, been to England. My belt says heavyweight champion of the world. It doesn’t just say ‘of Alabama’ or just ‘of this country.’ Either way it goes, I just want the fight made. I don’t care about location. I don’t care about date. I just want it made because my goal is to unify and I will unify.”

“My first time seeing him fight was against Andy Ruiz, which I thought he lost that fight,” Wilder said. “But that’s the only thing I’ve saw of him. I like the intensity and the courage his team has to want to unify.”

“We’ve made no secret we would like to fight Deontay,” Barry said. “We’d like to unify those belts.”

“I think that would be a good time for us. We’d like it to be in America,” Barry said. “We’re trying to make this unification. We’re doing our part. That’s why Joe is coming to the fight. We hope whoever wins the other belts [in the Joshua-Klitschko fight] keeps both belts and puts them up. It would be fantastic for the heavyweight division to have one champion. We’d like to go after the big fights with Joe.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com. A potential fight between WBO Heavyweight champion Joseph Parker and Hughie Fury will head to purse bid.

The minimum bid is $1 million. Parker co-promoters Duco Events and Top Rank and Fury promoter Frank Warren could still make a deal before the purse bid takes place but if the bid goes through the promoter with the highest offer will gain promotional control of the fight and be able to pick the date and location as well as control the other logistics of the event.

Parker will be entitled to 60 percent of the winning bid, and Fury would receive the remaining 40 percent, per the WBO’s ruling at its 2016 convention.

LONDON (9 December) – Pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford has vowed to make a statement against John Molina as he looks to be crowned the 2016 ‘Fighter of the Year’.

29-year-old Crawford clashes with the teak tough Molina this Saturday night, exclusively live on BoxNation, at the CenturyLink Center in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.

The undefeated WBC and WBO light-welterweight world champion has enjoyed a fruitful year and is ready to end it with a bang as he looks to continue from where he left off following wins over Viktor Postol and Henry Lundy.

“I will do what I do best and that’s to make a statement in the ring just as I did in the summer against Viktor Postol,” said Crawford.

“I unified the belts and became the lineal champion by dominating and beating a fellow undefeated champion in Postol. That’s when boxing is at its greatest – when the best fight each other and risk it all,” he said.

Molina will be no easy pickings as his unanimous points win over Russian assassin Ruslan Provodnikov proved in the summer.

The slick Crawford, however, feels a victory this weekend will propel him into the number one spot to be named the best fighter of 2016.

“Do I think I should be the fighter of the year? I do,” said Crawford.

“A win on Saturday will give me three televised world championship victories in three different cities. I beat Hank Lundy at Madison Square Garden. No one put the dents into Hank Lundy that I did. I stopped him in the fifth round.

“In the Postol fight, I went to Las Vegas and scored several knockdowns against an undefeated champion trained by Freddie Roach and unified the titles. Now I’m back in Omaha against a number one contender in Molina,” he said.

Having been in tough wars before, including a thriller against Argentine knockout artist Lucas Matthysse, 33-year-old Molina knows he will need to dig deep if he is to overcome a man regarded as one of boxing’s finest talents.

“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for me and the fans are going to see a great fight. I got into this game to fight the best and Terence Crawford is one of the best,” Molina said.

“It was a great training camp. We did all our homework and we are prepared. Hank Lundy was an enormous help as a sparring partner. It will be important to take Terence into deep water.

“It will be a great crowd because Terence Crawford fans are fans of boxing. But we will disrupt their enthusiasm by upsetting the apple cart,” he said.

Earlier in the day BoxNation will also be exclusively live from New Zealand as undefeated heavyweights Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz battle it out for the vacant WBO world title.

BoxNation will be live on air from 8am this Saturday as it brings subscribers the enthralling showdown to see who will be the new face of heavyweight boxing, before turning attentions to Crawford and Molina later that night.

Crawford v Molina / Parker v Ruiz is exclusively live on BoxNation (Sky/Freeview/Virgin/TalkTalk/EE/Apple TV/Online & App) this Saturday. Buy now at boxnation.com.

– ENDS –
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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (December, 8, 2016) – Undefeated heavyweight contenders JOE PARKER (21-0, 18 KOs), of Auckland, and ANDY RUIZ, JR. (29-0, 19 KOs), of Mexicali, Mexico, world-rated No. 1 and No. 3 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) respectively, will be battling for the vacant WBO heavyweight world title on Saturday. The fight will be televised in the U.S. on a same-day delay opening the HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast at 9:35 p.m. ET/PT, followed by the live telecast from CenturyLink Center Omaha, featuring the 10-round NABF/NABO lightweight championship fight between Top-10 contenders RAY BELTRAN (31-7-1, 19 KOs), of Phoenix, AZ, and MASON MANARD (32-1, 24 KOs), of Rayne, LA, and the Main Event, undefeated WBO/ World Boxing Council (WBC) / Ring magazine junior welterweight champion TERENCE “Bud” CRAWFORD (29-0, 20 KOs), of Omaha, Neb., defending his titles against No. 1 contender JOHN MOLINA JR. (29-6, 23 KOs), of Covin, Calif. This will be Crawford’s first defense of his unified titles and his third televised world chmpionhip fight of 2016.

Below are the comments from Parker, Ruiz and their teams from their final press conference, as reported by intrepid publicist Ed “Kiwi” Keenan, who is on the scene.

BOB ARUM:

Bob, who would you put your money on?
“I don’t put money on fights. I do give Andy a great chance to win this fight. I always tell people, the best way to lose money is to bet on a fight.

“Andy is in sensational shape for this fight.

“Andy has the fastest hands in a heavyweight that I have seen since Muhammad Ali. And he really stands in there and takes the fight to his opponent. The winner of this fight will be the preeminent heavyweight.

“The competition in the heavyweight division will be great in the years to come and these two will lead it. Ruiz and Parker will help make the heavyweight division the premier division in boxing.

“We’re celebrating my (85th) birthday here in New Zealand on December 8, which really isn’t my birthday because back home where I was born it will be December 7.”

BRUCE TRAMPLER:

“This is a historic fight and if I wanted two trainers for a fight I would pick these two – Abel Sanchez (Ruiz) and Kevin Barry (Parker). It’s the perfect storm these two fighting. I can’t imagine a better matchup. Two athletic hard-fighting guys that won’t take a step back. There are two two-weight classes in boxing – the heavyweights and then everyone else.”

ABEL SANCHEZ:

“We have two guys here that are the future of the heavyweight division. They will show us the way heavyweights are supposed to fight like. I am on a streak but that was Russia and this is New Zealand so we have to start a new streak.

“Kevin is an old fashioned kind of trainer like I am. I don’t have strength and conditioning coaches or nutritionists, I do it all myself

“Andy lost 35 pounds and it wasn’t plastics or diet. We ran a gym that made him work hard. And he lost the weight a little bit at a time. The guys in my camp weigh in every day, and they each need to be at same weight or less than they were the day before. So I can tell when they are cheating – eventually it catches up to them.

‘There are 68 world champions out there and all of their coaches are geniuses.

“Key improvements are up here (pointing to his head). He has skills already. My job is to get him mentally prepared to fight.

“Can he stay away from Joe’s jab? “Can Joe stay away from Andy’s jabs, and combinations?”

“The guy that can impose his will to win. Andy is very confident. The game plan will come after imposing his will.

:”There are different ways to lose weight. When you lose the weight you become a sharper puncher. You may lose a little power but gain sharpness.

“Heavy work was don in camp – right now we just wait for the fight. These two guys could fight tomorrow if they needed to.

“We sparred eight 4-minute rounds every day that was the hard part and Andy did 11 the day before I left for Russia. Andy is in the best shape of his life.

“I think Saturday is a tough 12-round fight. We are going to have a fight where they hurt each other. Heavyweights recently have been wrestling. This is going to be a real fight. I know I am going to have to work a full 12 rounds also as well as I know Kevin will too.

“They have treated us great in New Zealand. The people on the streets have been coming up and wishing Andy good luck, even though they aren’t on Andy’s side.”

KEVIN BARRY:

“This is a great fight. This is the best heavyweight fight of the year. They both have a chance to make history here. Joseph is a very confident boxer and that rubs off on a fighter. The crowd will be behind Joseph and that will lift Joseph to new heights. Joe understands the power he has and it will give him the drive and determination that will carry him.”

ANDY RUIZ

“This is my chance and I didn’t come all the way to New Zealand to lose. I know everyone is underestimating me. I know I trained hard for this fight. I hear everyone commenting on how I look physically, but imagine now that I am in great shape, how good I will be on Saturday night. I know I am an exciting fighter – I will use lots of footwork and throw a lot of combinations – and we both hit hard.

Does Parker have more pressure on him since he’s fighting at home?
“Both of us have pressure. I don’t know what Parker thinks about how much pressure he has on him, but I hope he feels like he has more pressure. I am confident in the work that I have done in training.”

“I know we are both prepped for 12 rounds. I don’t talk a lot of trash or anything. But when the bell rings we both flip the switch. I have a family to feed and I fight for them.

“This is a great opportunity for me and I’m not leaving New Zealand without that belt.”

JOSEPH PARKER

“There are two nights to go until the fight and I am very excited for the fight and excited to have it in New Zealand. We are not underestimating Andy Ruiz. We know he is in great shape. We both know that we are in great shape and we each know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

“Yes, we did spar together. I was in Las Vegas and new to the sport. I went in to spar with him [Ruiz] and thought it would be easy because of his size but when we were sparring he hit me pretty good and he chased me out of the ring and now I have to get him back for that. He’s coming to my backyard. I have to defend my country’s honor.

“We use the same routine for this fight as all the others – it is the one that has always worked.

“I will use the support in the building to motivate me and that will drive me throughout the fight.

“Andy wants to take the belt back with him and I want to keep it here. I want to go out there and win this and win it well.

“I know Andy is a nice guy and there is no hate between us. But when the bell rings on Saturday night we flip the switch and we will each be trying to knock the other guy out.”

*********************

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with TGB Promotions, remaining reserved seat tickets to the Crawford – Molina world championship event, priced at $27, $52, $77 and $127, can be purchased at the CenturyLink Center Omaha box office and all Ticketmaster outlets. To charge-by-phone call (800) 745-3000. To order online, visit ticketmaster.com.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #CrawfordMolina to join the conversation on Twitter.

HBO Boxing presents an action-packed tripleheader from two sites when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: TERENCE CRAWFORD VS. JOHN MOLINA JR. AND RAYMUNDO BELTRAN VS. MASON MENARD AND JOSEPH PARKER VS. ANDY RUIZ JR. is seen SATURDAY, DEC. 10 at 9:35 p.m. (live ET/ tape-delayed PT) from CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb. and Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on HBO. The HBO Sports broadcasting team will call the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: Dec. 11 (8:50 a.m.) and 12 (12:45 a.m.)

HBO2 playdate: Dec. 11 (3:40 p.m.) and 13 (midnight)

Omaha native Terence “Bud” Crawford (29-0, 20 KOs), 2014’s Fighter of the Year, defends his junior welterweight title for the third time in 2016 before enthusiastic hometown supporters when he meets John Molina Jr. (29-6, 23 KOs) of Covina, Cal. in a 12-round bout.

The 29-year-old Crawford enjoyed an impressive 2015 with knockout victories against top 140-pound contenders Thomas Dulorme and Dierry Jean. Known for speed, precision, defense and power, he defeated Hank Lundy last February and returned to the ring in July to score a dominating victory over the highly regarded, undefeated Viktor Postol in a junior welterweight unification title bout that had the boxing community buzzing. Unafraid of trading blows at close range, Crawford has won four of his last six bouts by thrilling stoppages.

The Omaha showdown marks the third time HBO Sports has traveled to the city for a Crawford fight and is his ninth live fight on HBO.

Molina Jr. is a hard-hitting, high-pressure brawler who challenged for a world title in 2012, and returns to the ring after a career-best upset of heavily favored former junior welterweight champ Ruslan Provodnikov in June. Using skills not seen in previous fights, Molina won a unanimous decision while skyrocketing up the rankings, with some organizations now rating him as high as number one in the world.

The evening’s co-feature is ten-round lightweight battle between two rugged veterans eager to compete for a title shot in 2017. Raymundo Beltran (31-7-1, 19 KOs), a native of Mexico now living in Phoenix, will square off with Mason Menard (32-1, 24 KOs) of Rayne, La. in a crossroads fight for both competitors. Since losing a unanimous decision to Terence Crawford in 2014, Beltran, 35, has notched two impressive knockout wins, while Menard, 28, has also defeated his last three opponents via knockout.

Opening the tripleheader is a world heavyweight title bout from Auckland, New Zealand between hometown favorite Joseph Parker (21-0, 18 KOs), 24, and Mexico’s Andy Ruiz (29-0, 19 KOs), 27, in a 12-round affair. Presented on same-day delay, the fight marks the first world title shot for two fast-rising undefeated competitors, both of whom aim to become their country’s first world heavyweight titleholder.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.
All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Johnathan Evans.

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

According to Dan Rafael, Top will co-promoted undefeated heavyweight Joseph Parker with Duco Ecents going forward, which includes his WBO title bout this Saturday night with Andy Ruiz in Auckland, New Zealand.

“Listen, having been in this business 50-plus years, I don’t expect anybody to win a fight, particularly when it’s as close on paper as this one is,” Top Rank’s Bob Arum said. “I really think that the winner of this fight probably has the best chance to be the pre-eminent heavyweight, I really believe that.

“Parker has natural skills. He’s so big and he punches so hard, and Andy has the fastest hands that I’ve seen on a heavyweight since Muhammad Ali.”

“But no promoter can make a fighter a star,” Arum said. “A fighter has to make himself a star. A promoter can only help by getting the right fights, getting the right publicity, but the idea that the promoter makes the star, as flattering as that is, is just not the case.

“If Parker does defeat Andy Ruiz then we will, together with Duco, perhaps have Parker fight in the United States, then come back here and then fight in China. Believe me, this [is] just the start.

“We have massive global ambitions for Joseph and for a number of other fighters,” said Duco’s Dean Lonergan, whose company will still control any fights and revenue in New Zealand and Australia. “Just because we come from New Zealand doesn’t mean to say that we can’t do it overseas. In fact, it encourages us to go overseas because our market is so small.”