When Joseph Parker arrives in Auckland for his WBO world heavyweight title fight against Andy Ruiz Jr, he will almost definitely be in the physical shape of his life. The same can't necessarily be said of Ruiz Jr, a Mexican based in California who has had his share of ups and downs. "He is coming off a lopsided 10-round decision win against journeyman Franklin Lawrence on September 10. Ruiz's most notable victories are a fourth-round knockout of former world title challenger Ray Austin in May and a 10-round decision win against former world titleholder Sergey Liakhovich, but they were both way past their best days." Ruiz Jr recently pulled out of a fight with Hughie Fury, the cousin of Tyson, due to issues related to his management.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 21, 2016 19:18 UTC