On Saturday, December 10, 2016, Joshua Parker (21-0, 18 KOs) took on Andy Ruiz Jr. (29-0, 19 KOs) for the vacant WBO Heavyweight title at the Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand.
The 12-round fight was televised on BoxNation in the U.K.
After Tyson Fury relinquished his WBA and WBO Heavyweight titles earlier in October, the WBO decided to put its newly vacant title on the line between two undefeated, top-ten Heavyweights.
Parker, 24, is a native of New Zealand who had the hometown advantage. Parker had knocked out 86% of his opponents, though they had mostly been in his hometown, with Alexander Dimitrenko being the most notable name of his list of victims.
Ruiz is a 27-year-old native of Imperial, California who is known for his fast hands, though his frame is less aesthetically pleasing than someone like Anthony Joshua, who quite possible 100% muscle.
This Heavyweight fight was important because it demonstrated just how exciting the Heavyweight division is getting after Fury dethroned Wladimir Klitschko. Though in other divisions a need for a unified champion is dire, the end of the Klitschko reign meant a race for supremacy between the likes of Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua and the winner of Parker-Ruiz.
Check out the results from the entire card below.
Results:
Joseph Parker vs. Andy Ruiz Jr., 12 rounds, for vacant WBO Heavyweight title
DECISION: 114-114, 115-113, 115-113 to the winner… #AndTheNew WBO World Heavyweight Champion @joeboxerparker #ParkerRuiz pic.twitter.com/LAAqku6Ir4
— BoxNation (@boxnationtv) December 10, 2016
Parker scored majority decision victory against Ruiz. The scores were 115-113, 115-113, and 114-114 for Ruiz.
Parker is now the WBO Heavyweight champion, though he did not look spectacular against Ruiz.
Jeff Horn vs. Ali Funeka, 12 rounds, Welterweights
"It was hard to impress in a fight like that but hopefully Bob Arum was impressed with my performance" – Jeff Horn
— BoxNation (@boxnationtv) December 10, 2016
Horn defeated Funeka by sixth-round TKO. Horn was knocked down in Round 3, while Funeka was dropped in Rounds 5 and 6 before being stopped.
Isaac Dogboe vs. Julian Aristule, 10 rounds, Super Bantamweights
BOOM! DOWN GOES ARISTULE! He's up and on unsteady legs… Dogboe looking to finish it here…
— BoxNation (@boxnationtv) December 10, 2016
Dogboe won via seventh-round TKO. Aristule was dropped twice in Round 7.
Shannon O’Connell vs. Laura Griffa, 8 rounds, female Super Bantamweights
O’Connell scored an eight-round unanimous decision victory.
Junior Fa vs. Pablo Magrini, 8 rounds, Heavyweights
Fa scored a third-round KO victory.
John Parker vs. Ash McConville, 4 rounds, Heavyweights
Parker won via four-round unanimous decision. Parker won with three scores of 40-36.
