Higgins, who is promoting Parker’s first ever bout in the UK, burst into Fury’s press conference yesterday and made a bee-line for Peter Fury, who trains the British heavyweight.
The Duco Events director later claimed there had been a breach of contract over the choice of referee for Parker vs Fury which had sparked his anger.
“It looks dramatic, but the reality is – I was angry because Peter Fury agreed to a neutral referee, the contract states that,” Higgins told Sky Sports.
“The WBO guidelines said that. That’s why Peter got angry.
“If you watch the press conference again, you will focus on my behaviour, but I tell you what I was calmly pushed out. Peter Fury was very angry and he knows, because he’s an honourable man, that I’m right.
“I don’t blame the Furys, I blame the British Boxing Board of Control, but the reason Peter was angry, because he knows I’m right.
“Peter Fury went mental, he’s used to being respected, and he deserves some respect.
“I respect him, because I believe him that he does want a neutral referee.”
But Fury hit back at Higgins, claiming he had come into the press conference drunk.
“He’s a rank amateur. He’s p****d,” Fury said afterwards.
“He comes in drunk with some old man bodybuilder. What is that?
“Is that going to matter to us? It shows amateurness.
“There is no issue with the judges. The Boxing Board of Control have issued whoever they’ve got. They’ve got a New Zealand judge, another one’s neutral – what more do they want?
“I’ve got no influence over the Boxing Board of Control. We’ve got no say on it whatsoever.
“How could we have?
“I believe they’ll change the referee but it’s up to the board to make that decision.”