Barry says Ruiz is favourite

Kevin Barry says Andy Ruiz has faster hands than Joseph Parker and deserves the favourite’s tag for their WBO heavyweight title fight.

Barry’s theory went far deeper than just the hotly debated topic of hand-speed for the December 10 showdown at Vector Arena.

Whether the TAB takes any notice remains to be seen – they have Parker at $1.25 to win the fight with Ruiz at $3.70.

Barry said the TAB had the odds for Parker’s crucial May win over Carlos Takam ‘‘miles, miles wrong’’ as was proved by the eventual 12-round decision.

He suggested the fight with Ruiz could also go the distance despite both boxers having a liking and record for knockouts.

Grabbing the underdog’s tag isn’t unexpected. With most of the hard work done on the roads and in the gym, it’s time for some mind games.

Barry argued that the 27-yearold Mexican had four more years experience than Parker, eight more fights to his name, had never been hurt, beaten or downed and ‘‘brings more pressure than anyone we have faced’’.

‘‘He comes to New Zealand as the favourite to win this fight, there is no doubt in my mind,’’ Barry said as he fronted a media conference in Auckland on Monday.

‘‘We have always talked about Joe having fast hands but I believe that Andy Ruiz punches faster than Joe.’’

With that done, Barry turned the heat up on Ruiz further.

‘‘The pressure for this fight is on Andy Ruiz. He is the guy expected to win this fight. He has one of the top trainers in the world in Abel Sanchez who has trained 16 world champions ... there is a lot of pressure on Andy Ruiz to be Abel’s 17th champ.

‘‘Mexico has a huge tradition of producing champions, they have never had a heavyweight champion so, once again, the pressure is on Andy Ruiz.’’

Barry reaffirmed he saw Ruiz as a potential world champion when he dabbled in training him in 2013 before picking up Parker.

He said he had issued a warning about Ruiz to Duco Events bosses Dean Lonergan and David Higgins when they secured the fight for Auckland, providing an alternate title route to going through giants like Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

‘‘I said to them that Andy Ruiz is a bloody tough fight,’’ Barry said.

‘‘He will be a lot tougher and a lot hungrier than Carlos Takam and he brings more pressure. It will be huge ... he only knows one way and that is to come forward and throw punches.’’

The change in direction had also required ‘‘quite a big rethink’’ in training and tactics as Parker had to adjust for the shorter Ruiz rather than a likely mandatory against IBF champion Joshua.

Barry felt the WBO title fight represented a juncture in Parker’s professional career.

‘‘This fight for us is the end of a four-year apprenticeship,’’ he said.

‘‘Joe has developed, progressed, he’s got bigger, he’s got better, his skills have improved, he has collected eight belts, and everything has prepared us for this moment.

‘‘But we will need to see the very best Joseph Parker if he is to win this fight ... everything we have learned must be on display.’’

Barry indicated he and Parker would take a fluid approach to finishing off their preparations in Auckland which may include some late sparring.

They had blown the cobwebs of their travel home out with a good weekend session and he felt Parker was in good shape and peaking nicely.

Ruiz is only due in Auckland next Monday, playing a risky game of looking to maximise the effects of his altitude training while fighting off the effects of his long-haul flight.