Review by AllTheBestFights.com: 2016-12-10, close fight but not so exciting: Joseph Parker vs Andy Ruiz Jr gets two stars.Both undefeated, the New Zealander Joseph Parker entered this fight with a perfect boxing record of 21-0-0 (18 KOs=86%) and he is ranked as the No.5 heavyweight in the world (currently the #1 in this division is Luis Ortiz) while his opponent, Andy Ruiz Jr, has an official record of 29-0-0 (19 knockouts) and he entered as the No.21 in the same weight class. Parker has already fought four times in 2016 beating Solomon Haumono (=Parker vs Haumono) and Alexander Dimitrenko in his last two (=Parker vs Dimitrenko) while Ruiz has fought three times beating Ray Austin, Josh Gormley and Franklin Lawrence (=Ruiz vs Lawrence). Parker vs Ruiz is valid for the vacant WBO World heavyweight title. Watch the video and rate this fight!
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Date: 2016-12-10
Where: Vector Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
Division: heavyweight (over 200 lbs, 90.7 kg)
Title: vacant WBO World heavyweight title
Parker’s previous fight: Joseph Parker vs Alexander Dimitrenko
Ruiz’s previous fight: Andy Ruiz Jr vs Franklin Lawrence
Parker’s next fight: Joseph Parker vs Razvan Cojanu
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Video: (Free embeddable video hosted on Youtube and not uploaded by AllTheBestFights, to report it please visit this link where the video is hosted)
Official highlights
Andy Ruiz definitely slowed down because of all that weight hes unnecessarily carrying around. At that level of competition, its those minute details, like being in good shape, that make the difference but looking at the level of skill of both guys, watching Ruiz Jr, a 255 pound fat man, leap to throw slapping left hooks and Parker running around with his hands down and his chin up in the air, you cant help but wonder what Mike Tyson would have done, or Lennox Lewis for that matter. Maybe they fought for a belt, but its meaningless. Parker on the other hand, has proven himself as a worthy contender finally, he fought a guy who was undefeated, had a higher skill level than all his past opponents, showed up to win, though his body didnt, and he rose to the occasion, a lot on the line and he didnt falter, i guess now on to Fury and the big fights next year..
pony match wilder f*cking rules
p.s. AJ IS WELL SLOW FEET
Far from convincing win by Parker, still leaves himself exposed when going backward with hands held low. I read the fight as a draw.
If Parker is to fIght the upper ranks in the heavyweight division ( all but one of Ruiz’s past opponents have been worn out slabs) then he will have to improve his defence and also learn to attack more toward the end of each round. In saying this his footwork and speed are equal to any of the fighters in front of him. He still has a long way to go to get up to the current and past pfp fighters.
yea, its not like Hughie Fury doesnt have a chance in that fight, and its not convincing that he beats Joshua or Wilder at this point. I think he did win the fight, Ruiz looked like he was going through the motions most of the time, but thats what happens when Bob Arum carries guys, Ruiz has never been tested, hes always done just enough to get by it seems and in this fight it looked like that. Ruiz never adjusted, he did the same thing every round, he slowed down in those middle rounds and it cost him and it really seemed as if Ruiz had no real strategy. Ruiz just looks like an amateur fighter who was carried much too easily and quite honestly, both guys looked limited, the fact its for a title is a bit over the top
Good fight between two skilled boxers. I was surprised with the punching speed of Ruiz that seems to be totally out of shape. However, he did a good fight giving some unexpected problems to Parker who may be took the win for granted. Anyhow, Parker did also the right fight keeping the proper distance for his reach advantage and using profusely the jab which was precisely connected in several occasions. The fight was close but with a precise judges’s verdict. However, Parker may need more preparation before confronting more skillful rivals in future bouts. If he try now with Joshua I don’t think he will make it.
2nd best heavy weight fight of the year.
I had it 115/113 for Parker myself. Ruiz just didnt have the stanima. if he continues to train at Bigbear, looses 30 lbs, and learns to throw straight. It might make for a better rematch.
All in all, both loose to Joshua and Wilder at the moment.