Early warning signs for Joseph Parker who expects 'every trick in the book' from Dereck Chisora
Duncan Johnstone
Two former world champs get together at Parker's Las Vegas gym to work on their games.
Joseph Parker and his team are expecting "every trick in the book" from Dereck Chisora in the leadup to their heavyweight clash in London in October.
Parker has flown from Auckland to Las Vegas to start his training camp for the fight that is set for October 26 though hasn't been formally announced.
The delay in getting the fight details is just the start of what the Parker camp believe will be a murky time heading into a clash that has been in the making for the better part of a year.
Joseph Parker says he won't be distracted by British mind games as he prepares to fight Dereck Chisora in London in late October.
Parker said they had been trying to get the fight date confirmed for the "last four to five weeks" with no success though a formal offer has finally been received and will be accepted.
"If I was a conspiracy theorist I would say it's old David Haye (Chisora's manager) doing a little gentleman's agreement with (promoter) Eddie Hearn to try and delay us and leave us as little time as possible," Parker's manager David Higgins told Stuff.
Eddie Hearn and David Higgins resume their friendly rivalry for Joseph Parker's clash with Dereck Chisora.
That would follow a similar script earlier in the year when they wanted Parker to take on Chisora at short notice.
"They ran the time down and we called their bluff and pulled the pin," Higgins said, revealing that there was also pressure for Parker to front Chisora at short notice again for an October 6 fight in Manchester.
"I think it's that old colonial arrogance ... you know, we are from the colonies.
"We are told we are the B-side for this fight by our own promoter because you have those wealthy English toffs Eddie Hearn and David Haye scheming away. But we are used to that."
Higgins suspects the fun and games have only just begun.
"I can see there is going to be a hell of a lot of gamesmanship in the buildup to this fight," he said.
British heavyweight Dereck Chisora is an expereinced campaigner.
"With Chisora and Haye you are dealing with two very old dogs and experienced campaigners that will try every trick in the book.
"Less so Hearn. He is our promoter, he has probably got a bob each way. But Chisora and Haye ... there will be games and this late confirmation is part of it."
The fight is crucial to former WBO champion Parker's hopes of getting back into title contention. He must beat the rugged Chisora to achieve that in what is his second bout of a three-fight deal with Hearn.
Higgins confirmed a British referee would control the fight with a judging panel made up of one neutral judge, one Australian or New Zealander and one Brit.
"But as we have seen on our trips to the UK, there has been officiating disgraces every time," Higgins said, producing three examples.
"Against Hughie Fury a house house referee was installed, breaching every contract, and we got him changed.
"Against Anthony Joshua we all saw the referee didn't let Joe engage.
"Then the head butt against Dillian Whyte was called a knockdown.
"Three times we have been stuffed around and not treated fairly. So we know what we are dealing with and this attempted game playing won't affect Joseph's psychology because he has been through the ringer up there."
Stuff
Duncan Johnstone
Two former world champs get together at Parker's Las Vegas gym to work on their games.
Joseph Parker and his team are expecting "every trick in the book" from Dereck Chisora in the leadup to their heavyweight clash in London in October.
Parker has flown from Auckland to Las Vegas to start his training camp for the fight that is set for October 26 though hasn't been formally announced.
The delay in getting the fight details is just the start of what the Parker camp believe will be a murky time heading into a clash that has been in the making for the better part of a year.
Joseph Parker says he won't be distracted by British mind games as he prepares to fight Dereck Chisora in London in late October.
Parker said they had been trying to get the fight date confirmed for the "last four to five weeks" with no success though a formal offer has finally been received and will be accepted.
"If I was a conspiracy theorist I would say it's old David Haye (Chisora's manager) doing a little gentleman's agreement with (promoter) Eddie Hearn to try and delay us and leave us as little time as possible," Parker's manager David Higgins told Stuff.
Eddie Hearn and David Higgins resume their friendly rivalry for Joseph Parker's clash with Dereck Chisora.
That would follow a similar script earlier in the year when they wanted Parker to take on Chisora at short notice.
"They ran the time down and we called their bluff and pulled the pin," Higgins said, revealing that there was also pressure for Parker to front Chisora at short notice again for an October 6 fight in Manchester.
"I think it's that old colonial arrogance ... you know, we are from the colonies.
"We are told we are the B-side for this fight by our own promoter because you have those wealthy English toffs Eddie Hearn and David Haye scheming away. But we are used to that."
Higgins suspects the fun and games have only just begun.
"I can see there is going to be a hell of a lot of gamesmanship in the buildup to this fight," he said.
British heavyweight Dereck Chisora is an expereinced campaigner.
"With Chisora and Haye you are dealing with two very old dogs and experienced campaigners that will try every trick in the book.
"Less so Hearn. He is our promoter, he has probably got a bob each way. But Chisora and Haye ... there will be games and this late confirmation is part of it."
The fight is crucial to former WBO champion Parker's hopes of getting back into title contention. He must beat the rugged Chisora to achieve that in what is his second bout of a three-fight deal with Hearn.
Higgins confirmed a British referee would control the fight with a judging panel made up of one neutral judge, one Australian or New Zealander and one Brit.
"But as we have seen on our trips to the UK, there has been officiating disgraces every time," Higgins said, producing three examples.
"Against Hughie Fury a house house referee was installed, breaching every contract, and we got him changed.
"Against Anthony Joshua we all saw the referee didn't let Joe engage.
"Then the head butt against Dillian Whyte was called a knockdown.
"Three times we have been stuffed around and not treated fairly. So we know what we are dealing with and this attempted game playing won't affect Joseph's psychology because he has been through the ringer up there."
Stuff