Fight night
Destiny awaits king of the ring
At the end of what will have seemed like a long week for Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz Jr, both of whom are standing on the brink of history and a chance to win what has been described as the most prized trophy in sport — the heavyweight championship of the world — it was perhaps veteran commentator “Colonel” Bob Sheridan who summed it up best.
“One of these guys will become the new WBO heavyweight world champion and on his way to becoming a multi- millionaire,” Sheridan said as he welcomed the pair to the stage to weigh- in before a large crowd packed into a downtown Auckland bar.
This is the big time, a chance for New Zealander Parker and Mexican Ruiz Jr to set themselves up financially for life. On a weekend during which Anthony Joshua will be defending his version of the heavyweight title in London, a potential worldwide audience of millions will also be focusing on a ring in the middle of Vector Arena to see which of Parker or Ruiz Jr will triumph, and who will lose for the first time as a professional.
Both fighters looked relaxed and relatively calm yesterday. Ruiz Jr, trimmer than we have seen for a long time, but still slightly flabby around the mid- section, crossed himself after weighing in. Parker, looking bigger around the shoulders than before, gave a thumbs up to the crowd. The home favourite looked in his element.
There was, perhaps to the relief of the media, some fighting talk from 24- year- old Parker afterwards. Both men have conducted such a benign and friendly build- up that getting a headline over the past fortnight has probably been tougher than expected, but Parker delivered when asked by the Weekend Herald how he will put his height, reach, and potentially, power, advantage to use when the first bell goes.
“I’m going to punish him from the outside, I’m going to pierce his face with my jab — that’s what I’m going to do from the outside,” he said.
His game plan appears clear, and not unexpected; to keep Ruiz Jr away with his superior reach and razorsharp left jab. Parker will be preparing to fight on the back foot, but he also has the potential to hurt Ruiz Jr when he tries to get inside, and the shorter man has no choice but to do that.
Weighing in at 111.9kg, Parker’s heaviest fight weight, he said it was “112kg of muscle, pure muscle”. It is the result of new strength training which features more weights; the result of which was first seen in his last fight against Alexander Dimitrenko in Manukau in October, and if Parker fights with the speed, power, and intent he showed in that knockout win, he is likely to be happy with the result against Ruiz Jr.
His opponent tipped the scales at 116kg, slightly above his goal weight. “I’m really happy with that,” Ruiz Jr said. “We thought we were going to be 114kg, but we’ve been eating right and I’ve been taking care of myself. I’m going to come out strong.”
His trainer, Abel Sanchez who has schooled 17 world champions, i s expecting a “brutal, vicious, hardfought fight. Guys may go down, guys are going to get hurt, but I think Andy is going to come out victorious”.
Parker’s trainer Kevin Barry, who has been with him for the majority of his fights during his astonishing rise to the top, replied: “I’d expect Abel to say that. All I can say is that the two weeks since we’ve been here in New Zealand, the work that Joe has done in the gym is the best I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen him so focused, I’ve never seen him so sharp. He’s hitting harder than I’ve ever felt before, and I can honestly say that.”
Ruiz: “It’s time to have fun, to show the talent that I really have.”
Parker, who traditionally walks to the ring smiling, added: “Tomorrow when I come out to the ring I think the smile will be even bigger because I’m happy, I’m excited. But when we’re facing off in the middle of the ring with the ref, with Kev behind me, that’s when it’s time turn the switch.”