Boxing: WBO step in by appointing own fight supervisor

Joseph Parker says he is going to focus on what he has to do in order to prepare for fight night.

The selection of a British referee for Joseph Parker's title defence against Hughie Fury in Manchester continues to make waves, with the WBO installing its vice-president John Duggan, an American, as the fight supervisor.

The decision to have Duggan oversee the fight at Manchester Arena next Sunday was announced by WBO president Paco Valcarcel yesterday, a move welcomed by Parker's promoter David Higgins, who told the Herald on Sunday he is still hopeful referee Terry O'Connor will not be the third man in the ring.

"We respect the authority of the British Boxing Board of Control [BBBoC] but we remain very concerned," Higgins said.

Higgins and the WBO have petitioned the BBBoC to reverse their decision but to no avail. All three judges are also British, a state of affairs which contravenes the fight contract which makes clear all officials must be neutral.

O'Connor, an Englishman, has been heavily criticised in the past for his handling of fights, in particular a controversial victory by Fury's heavyweight cousin Tyson over John McDermott in 2009.

O'Connor was the sole judge of the contest and handed Fury the decision 98-92 despite the boxer's corner telling him he was behind on points before he went out for the 10th and final round.

Respected boxing writer Kevin Mitchell described the result as a "highway robbery" and the BBBoC investigated but took no action.

Last year, O'Connor was criticised for not stopping earlier a fight between George Groves and Eduard Gutknecht which left the latter in a coma.

In sending Duggan to England as fight supervisor, the WBO has signalled its intent and the organisation is likely to come under increasing pressure to do more over the next few days.

"Part of me says it is heart-warming to have the backing of the WBO and to see them taking an interest in their heavyweight champion," Higgins said. "This is about Joe being treated fairly."

Parker said: "It is important when you fight that you are on an even playing field but it is not my job to worry about the referee. My job is to be in great shape and prepare myself for fight night. I'm going to focus on what I have to do."

Bob Arum, the veteran American promoter who now has a business relationship with Duco and backs Parker's interests in the United States, has close links with the WBO and is understood to be fuming about the selection of the officials.

Under British boxing rules, the BBBoC has the final say over the selection of the officials. General secretary Robert Smith has said: "As far as we're concerned, we've had a bit of correspondence from Parker's team. We have heard nothing from the actual promoter in this country, Mick Hennessey, but we certainly had something from Parker's team, giving us their thoughts.

"We take on board what their thoughts are, we don't agree. We feel on this occasion, there is no need to deviate from our standard policy."

Kiwi Parker is in London preparing for the fight and will travel to Manchester on Thursday. He has already said his goal in the second defence of his WBO world title is to knock out Fury, a finish which would take the judges out of the equation.