Thursday 30 November 2017 18:46, UK
Barcelona's Nou Camp will be considered as a possible venue for Anthony Joshua's unification clash with Joseph Parker, says the New Zealander's promotional team.
Negotiations for Joshua's world title fight with Parker could be nearing completion, with the British champion's promoter Eddie Hearn hoping to agree a deal within the next two weeks for the bout to take place in March or April.
Duco Events, who guide Parker's career, are already assessing possible venues to stage the fight, including Barcelona's home stadium which has an attendance of over 99,000.
David Higgins, a director at Duco Events, told Sky Sports: "The reason I threw Barcelona out there, is because I know the English love to go to Spain and there will be a lot of expats in Spain.
"It's a short flight. That stadium is massive. They're not in need of tourists, they probably think they have too many, but if it's off the main tourist season then as an economic thing, it would stack up.
"A lot of English would go for a week in Spain. I'm throwing it out there as a possibility, without having any discussions with them.
"Like I said, we have got a track record. The Jeff Horn-Manny Pacquiao fight delivered a massive economic return and was seen I think as a wise investment."
The two heavyweights will carry unbeaten records and three recognised world titles into the fight and Higgins has confirmed that a rematch clause will be enforced by Joshua's team if he suffers defeat.
"They said it was the bottom line, the rematch clause, and if Joseph had been flattened 10 times, I too would ask for a rematch clause," said Higgins.
"Joshua does have big commercial pull, so they have every right to expect a bigger share of the pie, which we are giving them, and a rematch clause. We have confidence in our guy Parker and his chin. We think he wins."
Higgins has been invited by Hearn to attend face-to-face talks in England, but is reluctant to travel until he receives more favourable terms.
"I potentially will go to Britain, but not until I see a concession on their side," he said. "Our view is we're close, we've made all the concessions so far, and I need to see some movement from their side.
"I like Eddie, I think he's good to work with, he listens and is open to a collaborative approach. He doesn't have an ego problem and he is quite funny, so I see him as a guy I can work with.
"If he signals a bit of room to move, then I probably will jump on a plane and brave another English winter."
Joshua appeared to directly criticise Duco Events by referring to Parker's 'poor PR management', but Higgins believes the champion will now feel inclined to take the fight after being drawn into a war or words.
"I think Joshua has no choice but to fight Parker," said Higgins. "He's talked a big game. What did he call himself? The king of Dubai? He was born in Watford. What the hell is the king of Dubai? What is that?"
