The president’s cousin that made Joshua-Parker happen

Millions of eyeballs will focus on a small rectangle in Cardiff tonight, with three of the four major world heavyweight titles on the line. Both fighters are undefeated, both are heroes in their own countries.

There will be a genuine sense of occasion at the Cardiff arena when Anthony Joshua faces Joseph Parker.

Parker’s promoter, the 38-year old Auckland-based David Higgins, is among those who have done most to make the fight happen. He spent some of his teenage years in Clare and his mother hails from Newmarket-on-Fergus.