Dylan Thorne: Promoters right to keep taxpayers out of ring

Duco promoters Dean Lonergan (left) and David Higgins withdrew its application for assistance in funding Joseph Parker's upcoming title fight due to negative public comments.

Duco Events made the right decision in withdrawing its application for assistance in funding boxer Joseph Parker's title fight in December.

The application sparked heated debate over whether it met the range of criteria required for an event to get government funding, such as tourism opportunities, promoting New Zealand overseas and employment.

Many felt the one-off event did not meet the criteria and raised concerns about the fact that it was set to be a pay-per-view broadcast.

Those who supported the move pointed to other events that had received funding, such as Team New Zealand's America's Cup campaign, and questioned why a title fight should not qualify.

Events like the America's Cup run for a long time and offer extended exposure of the New Zealand brand. In contrast, the title fight is a one-night event.

Parker is among a crop of exciting young fighters breathing new life into the heavyweight division which struggled to generate interest under the reign of brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko.

While Parker is well known in New Zealand and is climbing his way up the rankings, he has yet to face a challenge, such as his looming showdown with the UK's Anthony Joshua, that would win him a global audience.

It's possible his opponent, Andy Ruiz Jr, might have a following in Mexico but, in my view, he does not have the profile to generate a large audience either.

It is hard to see how the event would have offered the kind of opportunities to promote New Zealand as a destination that the Government would seek.

Duco Events wanted to enter into a relationship where they would show content advertising the possibilities New Zealand had to offer.

Instead, it decided to cut its losses and go it alone, with the negative comments about the pay-per-view aspect of the broadcast, in particular, touching a nerve.

The company made the right decision. Taxpayers should not have to stump up cash to seal the deal.