Joseph Parker vs Andy Ruiz 10.12.16 - WBO World Heavyweight Championship

It's been a while but I'm back! In anticipation for this weekends big World Heavyweight title unification fight between Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker, I have decided to upload Parker's WBO World Championship win from 2016. More info below... Joseph Parker earned his shot at the vacant WBO World Heavyweight title by remaining undefeated in 21 fights and holding a bevy of titles that included the New Zealand National Boxing Federation Heavyweight Title, WBO Oriental Heavyweight title, PABA Heavyweight title, OPBF Heavyweight title, WBO Africa Heavyweight title, WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Heavyweight title, and the WBA Oceania Heavyweight title. He had beaten some well known names in the boxing world such as Solomon Haumono, Carlos Takam, Kali Meehan, Bowie Tupou, Sherman Williams, Brian Minto and Frans Botha. Although all of those names were arguably past their prime they still represented a good challenge and much needed experience for the up and coming Kiwi heavyweight. Andy Ruiz had earned his shot at the vacant WBO World Heavyweight title by remaining undefeated in 29 fights and equalling the record for the 2nd most successful NABF Heavyweight title defences, tied at 5 alongside the legendary Muhammad Ali. Ruiz hadn't really fought any stand out big names of the division however he did beat fellow undefeated boxer, Joe Hanks, in 2013 to claim the WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight title and in 2014 he beat former WBO World Heavyweight Champion, Siarhei Liakhovich, by unanimous decision successfully defending his NABF and WBO titles in the process. The WBO World Heavyweight title was voluntarily relinquished by Tyson Fury in 2016 after a year of inactivity paving the way for Ruiz and Parker to step into the spotlight. Both men were young and hungry and in some ways had similar skills. Both possessed fast hands, heavy punches and a decent chin but Parker had a height and reach advantage, not to mention he was fighting at home. The WBO title is generally considered the lesser of the big 4 (with the other 3 being the IBF, WBA and WBC) but it was a recognised world title nonetheless and would lead to other big money fights. The fight between Parker and Ruiz can hardly be called a classic. It wasn't that exciting, but it was very close, and outcome debated by many. The biggest argument is that Parker was awarded a home town win in a close fight, but in my opinion, I think Parker did JUST enough to win and Ruiz was simply not busy or aggressive enough to pull ahead when it mattered. After 12 rounds Parker was awarded a majority decision, and interestingly enough, all of the officials were from neutral countries with no connection to either fighter or New Zealand. It looked very fair on paper, but hometown crowd reactions have been known to sway opinions before...