After Tyson Fury gave up his heavyweight titleas, the WBO ruled that Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz will fight for the vacant title on December 10th, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
The bout will take place on December 10th in New Zealand.
Arum told ESPN that he and Lonergan met this week in Los Angeles and made a deal for the fight to take place in New Zealand, Parker’s home country, because that is where it would generate the most money. Arum said he has assurances there will be a neutral referee and judges.
Arum said the fight will be televised in the United States on tape delay on his “Solo Boxeo” series on Spanish-language network UniMas.
Arum said the deal he made with Lonergan was contingent on the WBO ordering the fight for the title, because they were unsure if it would be sanctioned when they met this week.
“We have worked a deal out with Parker’s people and Andy signed the contract earlier this week, but it was all subject to the sanction,” Arum said. “We got the sanction and it’s a done deal. I met with Dean on Monday. He was in California before he went on to the Puerto Rico for the convention.
“My (matchmakers) think Andy has a hell of a shot. The kid is pumped because apparently he’s sparred with Parker and more than held his own. I’ve seen some of Parker’s fights on YouTube clips. He’s a tremendous puncher but he doesn’t look to me to be particularly fast and Andy is a very fast heavyweight.”
“We checked with Abel about the date,” Arum said. “Andy is up there training with him now and Abel is absolutely free to do the fight on Dec. 10.”
“I see Ruiz as a fighter who has a lot of experience and will take this opportunity very serious,” Parker recently told ESPN when the prospect of the fight was raised. “He’s a dangerous fighter. With fighting good fighters it brings out the best in me.
“If we do fight for a world title and hold it in New Zealand it’ll be historic moment for myself, family and country. Exciting times ahead and I’m really looking forward to it. Also, fighting for a world title has always been a dream of mine. Dream come true to fight for it and win it.”
“If he wins the title Andy will be a very valuable fighter,” Arum said.
Arum even said he had an idea for who he could match Ruiz with if he wins the title. “I’ll put him in with (Julio Cesar) Chavez Jr.,” sad Arum, laughing about the former middleweight titleholder he used to promote and who has a notorious history of problems making weight.
