What do you rekon? The usual suspects? Fa,Morgan,Parker jnr?
Fa fights on the 17th so would have to do a deal there. Hemi Ahio if he's still alive..., Berridge?

Thought I'd start this thread:

t’s official. Parker versus Ruiz for vacant WBO title in New Zealand


By David Finger

The biggest story out of the WBO Convention in San Juan Puerto Rico came this morning at the championship and ratings committee meeting. Although there was talk of a possible four-man tournament to fill the recently vacated heavyweight title, which was surrendered by Tyson Fury, Carl Moretti of Top Rank and Parker’s promoter Dean Lonergan announced that the box off was not necessary. They announced that there was an agreement reached for #3 ranked Andy Ruiz to take on #1 Joseph Parker in New Zealand in December and that the winner would accept any mandatory set forth by the WBO for their first title defense.

“The winner of this fight will fight anyone that the WBO decrees to fight next,” Moretti said.

When asked if this included a 120-day deadline both Moretti and Lonergan said that was more than acceptable.

“We are happy with that,” Lonergan said before Moretti added that a 120-day deadline for a mandatory was “no problem.”

Promoter Frank Warren was agreeable as well, asking that the WBO mandate that the winner fight #4 ranked David Haye in that 120-day time frame. He also asked that Tyson Fury be considered as a mandatory after he was medically fit to return to boxing.

“I’m very happy with that,” Lonergan added when asked about a mandatory defense against Tyson Fury upon his return.

The WBO Championship Committee voted unanimously to approve Ruiz and Parker for the vacant WBO heavyweight title, ending speculation as to the status of the vacant heavyweight title.

Bellew vs Flores at 6AM on Sky Pop-up 56.  I'm taping it.

It seems almost a forgone conclusion that Joe will be wbo champion if the fight gets made, but are we looking past Andy Ruiz?

I think it needs to be discussed.

Ruiz has some good skills, fast hands, tidy power, can mix it on the inside, surprising stamina for a man his size.

In addition he has had a decent apprenticeship. His resume doesn't have names, but it has a wide variety of different styles, spoilers, awkward guys.

It reminds me a little of Tyson Fury's resume pre klitschko, and James Degales' between the Groves and Dirrell fights.

Ruiz is supposedly a lazy trainer but perhaps he will rise above that for such an opportunity.

Let's examine the styles and discuss, could Ruiz jr spoil everyone's plans.

David Haye says Joshua-Klitschko is on, says the match-up reminds him of Ali’s ill-fated fight with Berbick

James Slater - October 11, 2016 9 Comments 


Though British promoter Eddie Hearn is at pains to insist how the huge Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko (or should that be the other war around, with “Dr. Steel Hammer’s” name being given top billing?) fight is “close” but not yet done, former champ David Haye has Tweeted a congratulatory message to the reigning IBF heavyweight belt-holder over having got the fight.
“Great to hear Joshua-Klitschko is done. Timing is everything & the time now is perfect for AJ. Reminds me of Ali-Berbick. #Father Time,” Haye wrote today.

So, does Haye know something we do not, and is the fight a done deal and on for a date to be confirmed soon? Or Has Haye simply jumped the gun? Time will tell, but Hearn has already dismissed Haye’s Tweet.
But is Joshua-Klitschko/Klitschko-Joshua really a fight/match-up comparable to Muhammad Ali’s final fight, the quite depressing affair in The Bahamas that saw “The Greatest” look so poor against Trevor Berbick? Sure, Klitschko, at age 40, is around the same age as Ali was in the December 1981 bout (lost, as surely all fight fans know, by Ali via 10-round UD) and yes, Klitschko is coming off a loss, as Ali was upon entering what turned out to be his final ring appearance. But there the similarities end.
Ali was not just old and battling Father Time when he went in against Berbick, he was a sick man who had absolutely no business being in the ring unless it was to be introduced to fans as a ringside guest of honour who was in attendance to witness two other fighters go to war. And though Klitschko lost to Tyson Fury almost a year ago, he was nowhere near as faded a force as Ali was in his fight prior to meeting Berbick – the awful Larry Holmes fight/beating.READ 
[url=https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/fury-vs-klitschko-an-unfinished-rivalry/62983][/url]
Maybe the timing is right for Joshua, and maybe, if he does fight Klitshko next, he will benefit from his youth, his enthusiasm and his sharpness. But no way will he be meeting a standing target, or a sitting duck of a brutally faded former fighter the kind Ali was in his fight against Berbick.
You can’t blame Haye for rooting for Joshua, as he very much wants to fight him. Klitschko, though, is the pick to beat AJ in the opinion of many. Timing is indeed everything in boxing, and the majority of experts say this fight has come too soon for a fighter yet to go beyond the 7th-round.

Figure this guy deserves a thread, our again in December but no opponent as yet.

Who would you like to see him face?

Do you think he can make an impact in the division that's now wide open?

Interesting fight, be a yardstick of Parkers performance.

Personally I think so.

No excuses for low punches to boxing's bottom line, says Sky

I think it's about time we post our predictions for this fight, now that it's getting pretty close.

I'll start, Parker by KO 6th round.