Parker outpoints Ruiz to win world heavyweight title
Joseph Parker (22-0, 18 KOs) outpointed Mexico's Andy Ruiz Jr (29-1, 19 KOs) to win the vacant WBO heavyweight title at the Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand.
Parker became New Zealand’s first ever heavyweight world champion.
One judge scored the fight 114-114, but he was overruled by the other two judges who scored the fight 115-113 for Parker.
Ruiz got the better of Parker early on, scoring with a lot of hard shots in the first half of the bout. But the New Zealander was busier for the remainder of the fight, connecting with jabs and right hands.
"New Zealand, thank you," said Parker.
"What a dream come true. Thank you to Andy Ruiz for coming down to put on a great fight. We both fought hard but, like I said at the beginning, I'm going to be champion of the world. Here I am."
Ruiz said: "I think I got the win, or at least it was a draw. But I came over here to fight in his hometown, so what can I say?
"I hope I can come back and we get the rematch."