WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker has praised Duco Events for their high-risk, high-reward strategy that has landed his Australian stablemate Jeff Horn a shot at greatness.
The New Zealand company's flagship athletes, Parker and Horn were unknown only a few years ago but have been fast-tracked into boxing's big time.
Both have surged through the world rankings courtesy of Duco's shrewd approach to booking, and a co-promotional deal with Bob Arum's Top Rank has opened significant doors.
Horn has fought on several of Parker's undercards, including the Kiwi's heavyweight title win last year in front of a hometown Auckland crowd against Mexican Andy Ruiz.
Arum was in attendance that night and it was there that he became convinced Horn was a worthy opponent for Manny Pacquiao, with the pair set to clash in Sunday's 'Battle of Brisbane' for the WBO welterweight world title.
Parker said due credit had to be paid to Duco's co-owners Dean Lonergan and David Higgins, who recently announced they would split their business interests, for making the seemingly impossible happen.
"You can sign up with a lot of promoters around the world but who knows what would happen?" said Parker, who will defend his title against Hughie Fury in Manchester on September 23.
"There may be over 50, 100 fighters and we might have sort of slipped to the side and not focus on us.
"They've done everything they can.
"It's high risk - it's investing, you don't know what you're going to get.
"It's like a horse, when you invest in a horse, you don't know if the horse is going to do well or not. At least they can communicate with us.
"I feel like we're paying them back for their trust and belief in us."
Parker tipped Horn to produce a shock win over Pacquiao.
"I've seen him grow. I feel like his team has done a great job," he said.
"We've both been on the same accelerated path and I feel like it's his time."
