Bob Arum: Joseph Parker vs. Andy Ruiz Will Take Place!

By Edward Chaykovsky

Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum appeared on Radio Live and says a heavyweight showdown between his fighter Andy Ruiz and top rated Joseph Parker "is going to take place."

But it may not happen on the exact date Parker and his promoter, Duco Events, were targeting. They want to stage the fight on December 10th in New Zealand. The location is no issue, but Arum wants the fight to take place in January.

The fight is dependant on Tyson Fury being stripped of the WBO heavyweight crown, and that hasn't happened yet. Parker and Ruiz are the highest rated contenders and would battle it out for the vacant belt if Fury gets stripped.

Arum says the negotiations are ongoing and the two sides are close to reaching a deal on the money

"I have talked to [Duco Events boss] Dean Lonergan ... we are a little bit apart on the money, but we are going to talk and make a deal, I'm sure," Arum told Radio Live from Hong Kong.

"I think everything will go the way we want. The WBO  has agreed to neutral officials, Andy is quite happy with fighting in New Zealand, that's not a problem. I'm very, very optimistic that the result will be all boats ahead because it makes sense ... Parker and Ruiz are the two top contenders and WBO wll have a great champion."

Arum is pushing for January because Ruiz is now training with Abel Sanchez, who handles middleweight king Gennady Golovkin - and Golovkin is scheduled to fight on the same day in New York City.

But Duco Events CEO Dean Lonergan, who handles Parker, said a date in January is a problem because their corporate sponsors are not likely to spend any money during that month.

"I do see that as a problem, so we have a lot of talking to do. But Bob is very positive and we feel with a bit of compromise, we can get something sorted," Lonergan said to Fairfax Media.

"We also have to think of our mandatory to the IBF title. If Anthony Joshua fights Wladimir Klitschko for that and the WBA belt is thrown in there, why wouldn't we wait for the winner of that in March? So there are some serious discussions to be had."