By Edward Chaykovsky
On Wednesday, a press conference was held in London to officially announce a fight between David Haye and Tony Bellew for March 4 at the O2 Arena. Bellew, who holds the WBC cruiserweight world title, will move up in weight for the pay-per-view contest.
But a few weeks ago, the World Boxing Organization issued a set of orders with respect to their heavyweight world title, which Tyson Fury vacated to focus on his mental health.
The WBO ordered unbeaten boxers Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz to fight each other for the vacant belt. Their fight takes place on December 10 in New Zealand. Another order was issued, directing the winner of that fight to make a mandatory defense against Haye within 120 days.
Because of Haye's scheduled fight, making a defense against him within 120 days is impossible to accomplish.
Parker's promoter, Duco Events co-owner Dean Lonergan, wants an explanation from the WBO. Lonergan wants to get some clarification on where Haye stands as the mandatory and whether or not Parker (should he win) will be allowed to make a voluntary defense.
"People might think we are guilty of looking too far ahead but we have to," Lonergan said to Fairfax Media.
"Joseph Parker and Kevin Barry have to concentrate on Andy Ruiz but it's my job to look at what happens next. Win or lose against Ruiz, the show has to go on. Things change very quickly in this business as we've seen over the last couple of months."
Parker's trainer Kevin Barry was not surprised by Haye decision to take on Bellew.
"It's actually a very, very smart business decision for him," Barry said. "The David Haye-Tony Bellew fight in the UK is big, big deal. It's a fight where both guys generate huge purses, that's why that fight was made. It's also a fight David Haye looks at and says, 'I'm fighting a cruiserweight' ... and quite a sloppy cruiserweight too. It's a fight where David Haye will be a very big favourite."