Joseph Parker vs Andy Ruiz set to go at Vector

NEW ZEALAND – Boxer Joseph Parker’s trainer, Kevin Barry, says tonight’s WBO world heavyweight title fight in Auckland will be the “best heavyweight matchup of the year”.

Both the Samoan and New Zealand anthems will be played before Parker, a New Zealand-born Samoan, attempts to win a significant heavyweight title belt for both countries.

The 24-year-old New Zealand-born Samoan Parker is unbeaten in 21 fights with 18 knockouts, while his opponent, Mexican-American Andy Ruiz Jr, has not lost in 29 pro bouts, including 19 knockouts.

Ruiz is coached by world renowned trainer Abel Sanchez, a man with 17 world champions to his name.

Barry himself is yet to train a world champion but he believes that will change this weekend.

“When this fight was made, forget about being a coach, as a boxing fan, and the people I spoke to, said this fight is a great fight,” he said.

“This will be the most exciting fight in the heavyweight division this year.”

Barry said he and Parker aren’t afraid of the biggest challenge of their careers while both trainers expect the fight to go the full 12 rounds.

Parker has always been proud of his Samoan heritage. Parker’s Samoan ancestry roots go back to the Faleula village on the main island of Upolu where his mother hails from.

Lupesoliai La’auli Joseph Parker was born in South Auckland on January 9, 1992 to Dempsey and Sala Parker. Dempsey Parker, was named after heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey.

Joseph Parker was raised in Mangere and belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Parker took up boxing at the age eleven.

He has held the regional WBO Oriental heavyweight title since 2014, and the OPBF heavyweight title since 2015. As of October 2016, Parker is ranked as the world’s sixth best heavyweight by The Ring magazine, and seventh by BoxRec.

An accomplished amateur, Parker competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and narrowly missed qualification for the 2012 Olympics, all in the super-heavyweight division, before turning professional in May 2012.

In late October, the WBO ordered Parker and Andy Ruiz to fight for their vacant world title during a meeting at the sanctioning body’s annual convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Ruiz’s promoter Bob Arum confirmed the Mexican-American would fight Parker for the vacant title belt on December 10 in Auckland once Tyson Fury relinquished it earlier due to cocaine and alcohol problems in addition to mental health issues that caused him to cancel his rematch with former champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Parker is a massive favourite with international betting agencies to bea Ruiz and win the WBO heavyweight boxing title.

The international betting agencies have followed the early lead of the New Zealand TAB who have Parker a $1.30 favourite against Ruiz who is priced at $3.30 in head to head betting.

Both fighters are unbeaten with Parker 21-0 and Ruiz 29-0.

Ruiz’s promoter Bob Arum said on Wednesday it was “stupid” to pick a favourite, noting the early blows in the bout would decide such things.

“The first guy to hit the other on the beard, you got to give them the advantage,” Arum said.

There will be three anthems played before the fight starts at Vector Arena in Auckland _ with both the Samoan and New Zealand’s anthems for Joseph Parker – the Mexican anthem will be sung for Andy Ruiz Jr first.

- PNC