Joseph Parker

[bart]

Leapai???? Jayus thats a step down in class

[mippy]

Didn't leapai retire due to eye problems?

I'd rather he beat up Lucas Browne

[African Monkey]

Leapai and Molina are on about the same level tbh so yeah, not too fussed who Parker faces here.

[Kiwi]

That's a real shame

[bart]

Its a shame but at this stage I suppose he has been inactive so fighting and winning against anybody is something. The next fight will hopefully be a ranked fighter to show progress and in the next few months

[diehard]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/combat-sports/113441093/joseph-parker-tipped-to-fight-alex-leapai-in-us-instead-of-eric-molina--report

[diehard]

Andy Ruiz Jr wants Joseph Parker after he beats Anthony Joshua in heavyweight rematch

World heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr wants to avenge his loss to Joseph Parker if he can get through his rematch with Anthony Joshua.

Ruiz claimed the WBO, WBA and IBF belts in a massive upset of Britain's Joshua in New York earlier this month.

Ruiz and Joshua are in negotiations for a rematch to be held in November or December with Britain, the United States and Mexico under consideration.

Andy Ruiz Jr is adamant he beat Joseph Parker in their 2016 world title fight.
Win that and Ruiz says he'd like to fight Parker again. Parker handed Ruiz the only loss in his 33-12 career when the Kiwi won a controversial majority points decision in the 2016 fight for the vacant WBO belt in Auckland.

Ruiz has always maintained he beat Parker and it's a loss that clearly still grates the new ruler of the glamour division.

Andy Ruiz Jr put Anthony Joshua on the canvas four times during their New York world title fight.
"I'd like to fight him [Joseph Parker] after we get the fight I have first," Ruiz told a large media gathering at a victory celebration in California at the weekend.

"I never look past an opponent that I have. Right now I'm just focused on getting the results that I got in the last fight in the rematch, and remain the Mexican heavyweight champion of the world at heavyweight."

Parker is desperate to get back in the elite mix and set up another world title chance. Parker fights Australian-Samoan Alex Leapai in Providence, Rhode Island this Sunday (NZT). It's the first of three fights under a new deal with Britain's Eddie Hearn.

Parker and his trainer Kevin Barry were ringside at Madison Square Garden to watch Ruiz beat Joshua and Parker immediately expressed interest in fighting Ruiz.

To hear Ruiz thinking similar and to get an opportunity so quickly will be hugely motivating for Parker.

Ruiz predicts his sequel with Joshua will produce the same result, saying he can be even better prepared than he was last time when he took the fight at short notice, replacing American drugs cheat Jarrell Miller.

Andy Ruiz Jr now rules the heavyweight division with three of the four major belts.
"The rematch is going to be the same. I am going to be more prepared and more ready," Ruiz said.

"I know his flaws. I can do a lot better. The only thing that he can do is just run around, he's not good at boxing."

Ruiz got off the canvas in the third round in New York tio knock down Joshua four times before referee Mike Griffin stepped in to end the fight.

"People thought I wasn't going to do anything, I was too big, too overweight," Ruiz said.

"I don't want to say all the things I am going to change. There is going to be a lot of changing, I am going to come at a better weight this time. It's going to be a hell of a fight."

Ruiz also hit back at suggestions Joshua had suffered a panic attack in his dressing room before their fight, suggesting it was part of excuses for the previously unbeaten Brit.

"You know what, I think Eddie Hearn or his people are trying to get something [out there about] why he lost like that you know," Ruiz said.

"But he fought a hungry guy. I was hungry, I was mentally focused for that fight and I did not want to lose in front of my family or get beat up in front of my family."

Stuff

[Kiwi]

Great news for Parker

Let's hope Ruiz takes Joshua OUT

[diehard]

Hey Kiwi, that's what we want, right!!!

[Kiwi]

I see that WBO has made Usyk the new Mandatory.

Belts could easily splinter from here.

But I like Parker-Ruiz for all the marbles. Big UK fight....