Parker vs the B
They’re the men who know the game and shape careers. Duncan John n respective matchmakers to run the rule over Joseph Parker and Andy R
THEY’RE the men who know the strengths and weaknesses of fighters, the styles that make contests, and the power of the cornermen. So who better to run the rule over theWBOheavyweight title fight than the matchmakers for Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz? Here’s how they see Saturday’s showdown in Auckland. STUART DUNCAN(DUCO EVENTS) – Joseph Parker Andy Ruiz is favourite but if Joseph Parker can perform according to the plan then Joe wins theWBObelt.
I base that favouritism factor on Ruiz’s experience. The numbers don’t lie – he’s got more rounds under his belt.
But Joseph can definitely win using the key strengths in his own style. He has a physical advantage but has to use the jab as a weapon, not as a rangefinder. If he does that successfully, the jab opens up other punches and combinations which trainer Kevin Barry has been working on.
I see this as similar to the Carlos Takam fight in terms of difficulties although Ruiz brings more pressure than Takam and he’s a fresher fighter.
Joe has to improve on what he did against Takam – he mustn’t go back in a straight line; when he’s going backwards he has got to peel off to the sides and then counter-attack, making good use of angles.
That’s basically the blueprint on how to beat Ruiz. I’m not divulging top secret information here.
Ruiz is a little bit predictable, he does similar things round-in, round-out and that plays into Joe’s favour.
But make no mistake, Ruiz is tough and this is going to be a very good, hard-fought battle. He who throws the most punches wins.
Will it go the distance? There are two big punchers here so commonsense tells me no.
Andy Ruiz has an excellent tactician in his corner in Abel Sanchez. I know Abel extremely well. He’s one of the true gentlemen. You can’t buy a bag full of experience but this guy has actually got the runs on the board when you look at his champions.
Abel is able to polish skills and bring the best out of his fighters but, in saying that, Abel doesn’t have a wand in his back pocket and you can’t transform a boxer in 60 days and that’s all he’s had with Ruiz.
Let’s be realists. Abel has just had the Gennady Golovkin fight and where is he this weekend, he’s in Moscow with Murat Gassiev for another world title fight. I’m not sure that’s ideal preparation for Ruiz. He hasn’t been the sole focus, he’s not first cab off the rank, he’s not second cab off the rank, he’s playing third fiddle.
Reports of Ruiz’s weight loss must also be questioned. When he’s fought his best, he’s been at his biggest. The focus has been to strip him down in weight and I don’t think that works in his favour either. Stamina isn’t what he needs, he needs bully power, that’s what’s won him fights.
I’m quietly confident. I believe Joseph can win the fight late in the rounds.
I have faith in Kevin Barry as a coach. I have faith in Kevin Barry’s ability to direct the traffic through the course of the rounds. That’s the key strength – you need to have a tactician in your corner in this fight.
Kevin’s ability to steer the traffic against Ruiz is going to be as much of a catalyst to win the fight as Joe’s skills are going to be.
Would this be a fight I’d put in front of Joe if the WBObelt wasn’t on the line? Yes, most definitely.
I’m not into the name and shame game but I can tell you there have been a lot of top 10 fighters who have been offered good money to fight Joseph Parker.
They haven’t wanted it. That had nothing to do with the finances, it had more to do with them seeing Joe as a dangerous fighter.
The thing about Duco is they haven’t wanted to simply get Joseph Parker into a position to have a shot at a world title – that’s dangerous, people leave in ambulances with that attitude. They have always been about getting Joseph Parker into a position to win a world title. I believe that we are going to realise on that focus on December 10. BRADGOODMAN(TOP RANK) – Andy Ruiz
This is going to be a tremendous fight and we have high expectations for Andy Ruiz in Auckland.
We know Joseph Parker is a very, very solid guy who is well coached. I’ve known Kevin Barry for a long time and I have a lot of respect for him.
There’s been a lot of talk about Andy in the past but with Andy now being up in Big Bear and training with Abel Sanchez, I think he is a completely different fighter with his confidence levels, his dedication and the proper sparring.
So we’re very happy where everything stands as of right now in our corner.
There is no way around anything up there in Big Bear – all you do is train and sacrifice your body. Throughout his career, the one thing Andy has had problems with was dedication. He was always the boss, always wanted to go with his time, do whatever he wanted, slack off if he wanted to. But Abel doesn’t play any games like that – it’s either his way or you’re out of there.
I think Andy respects that and Abel has got the best out of him in