Duco Events

Duco was founded by David Higgins and John McRae in 2004 and they promoted their first boxing event, David Tua vs. Shane Cameron, on 3 October 2009. McRae and his executive production company VADR sold their interest in Duco Events following the David Tua vs. Friday Ahunanya fight and acquired a stake in Sky Arena, a SKY TV pay-per-view company and also founded esports broadcaster and tournament platform www.letsplay.live in 2015. In 2014, Duco signed Martin Snedden to become their new CEO of the company. In 2016, Duco Events paired up with Bob Arum of Top Rank to co-promote Joseph Parker vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. and Parker vs Cojanu. After the Parker vs Ruiz Jr. world title fight, Snedden stepped down as CEO. After Parker vs Razvan Cojanu, Lonergan and Higgins decided to part ways. Lonergan went on to create D & L Events in Australia and is the main promoter for Jeff Horn. Higgins continues to run Duco Events in New Zealand and work with Joseph Parker. At the end of Parker's six year fight deal with Duco, he signed a three-fight deal with Eddie Hearn under Matchroom Sport, with Higgins taking a management role within team Parker. ==Boxing==

In January 2009, Duco Events announced that David Tua will fight against Shane Cameron with this being the biggest boxing event in New Zealand history at the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/sport/799505/Tua-vs-Cameron-the-fight-of-the-century |title=Tua vs Cameron: the fight of the century ==Other Sporting Events==

In 2014, Duco events began an annual Rugby League sporting event called NRL Auckland Nines. The inaugural event was successful with over $9 million return. In 2017, the event ceased to continue due to lack of interest from the general public, which essentially made the event flop. There was an idea to move the event to Australia, however the event has not happened since. In 2017, Duco Events began another annual event, this time in Rugby called Brisbane Global Rugby Tens. At the inaugural event, only half capacity of tickets were sold. The 2018 event still went ahead but the event took a hiatus in 2019, but it is unknown if the event will return. In 2019, Duco hosted a Celebrity Twenty20 cricket event where Rugby Legends would take Cricket legends in a T20 Cricket match. The match took place on 25 January 2019, at the Hagley Oval. The event was considered a success will all 9,000 tickets sold out.{{cite web|url=https://www.ducoevents.com/news/black-clash-sell-out |title=Hot Spring Spas T20 Christchurch Black Clash a sell out ==Corporate Events==

As well as sporting events, Duco have hosted a variety of celebrity dinners, charity dinners, galas and balls. Some of the celebrities include Bob Geldof, Mick Fleetwood,{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12264898 |title=Mike Chunn: Mick Fleetwood, Sir Bob Geldof will play it out ==Boxers privously signed by Duco==

In 2013, Duco was heavily criticised for saving money by failing to provide qualified medical professionals at Fight for Life. This was referring to the 14 December 2013 event with the main event between Shane Cameron and Brian Minto. Manager Ken Reinsfeld said the person employed to stitch cuts "had no idea" and that "it's important the guy ringside is competent. I was shocked when I found out he wasn't registered. " Shane Cameron said that in 16 years of boxing, he had never fought without a registered doctor ringside. Charity fighters were also not medically assessed at the end of their bouts. Lonergan defended the apparent oversight saying "so be it" and while things were not perfect, "ultimately responsibility relies with me, no one else." This incident happened just a month after light heavyweight boxer Daniel MacKinnon suffered a brain bleed on another card and was rushed to hospital where his heart stopped for 40 seconds. Ulitimately MacKinnon recovered. ==References==