11-25-2016, 12:49 PM
Andy Ruiz delays flight to New Zealand as relaxed Joseph Parker arrives to fine-tune for WBO title fight
Joseph Parker and trainer Kevin Barry have arrived in Auckland to fine-tune for the New Zealand heavyweight's WBO title fight against Andy Ruiz.
Andy Ruiz has delayed his arrival in New Zealand, looking to maximise the advantages of his altitude training camp for his world title clash with Joseph Parker.
Parker flew into Auckland on Friday from Las Vegas, excited to be home for the biggest challenge of his career with the WBO title at stake in Auckland on December 10.
Ruiz had planned to arrive in Auckland this weekend but he and trainer Abel Sanchez have rethought their plans.
Sanchez, who trains his stable of fighters at Big Bear, more than 2100m up in the mountains behind Los Angeles, believes the benefits of working at altitude will last for 7-10 days.
That sees Ruiz now timed to arrive in Auckland on December 5.
The compromise for the Mexican heavyweight will be to quickly shrug off the effects of travel from the long haul across the Pacific.
He will also be in the unusual position of fighting with a new physique from his bootcamp training regime, a move that has already been questioned with legend Roy Jones Jnr believing Ruiz's considerable weight loss could affect his ability to take the heavy punches that are sure to come from Parker.
Ruiz's buildup is further complicated by Sanchez having to be in Moscow the week before the Auckland fight, to oversee Murat Gassiev's fight against fellow Russian Denis Lebedev for the WBA and IBF cruiserweight belts on December 3.
Sanchez plans a hectic travel schedule that will see him fly from Moscow back to Los Angeles and then on to Auckland.
Sanchez is no stranger to Ruiz but this is the first time he will work his corner on fight night.
Parker's last two rivals, Carlos Takam and Alexander Dimitrenkov, both arrived in Auckland more than two weeks out from their bouts, allowing plenty of time to adjust to local conditions for fights that had the IBF mandatory position on the line.
In contrast a relaxed Parker, mentally and physically on song, has kept to the routine that has brought him so much success at home during his unbeaten run over 21 fights that include 18 knockouts.
He has had eight weeks training in Vegas, a camp specifically designed to counter the considerable challenges of Ruiz's fast hands and deceptive movement, which he and trainer Kevin Barry have declared a success.
Now it's time for tapering. Parker believes a two-week fine-tuning period at home works best for him to round out his fight preparations.
He's even come in a day earlier this time - he has a bit on his plate, eager to catch up with his new-born baby girl.
- Stuff
Joseph Parker and trainer Kevin Barry have arrived in Auckland to fine-tune for the New Zealand heavyweight's WBO title fight against Andy Ruiz.
Andy Ruiz has delayed his arrival in New Zealand, looking to maximise the advantages of his altitude training camp for his world title clash with Joseph Parker.
Parker flew into Auckland on Friday from Las Vegas, excited to be home for the biggest challenge of his career with the WBO title at stake in Auckland on December 10.
Ruiz had planned to arrive in Auckland this weekend but he and trainer Abel Sanchez have rethought their plans.
Sanchez, who trains his stable of fighters at Big Bear, more than 2100m up in the mountains behind Los Angeles, believes the benefits of working at altitude will last for 7-10 days.
That sees Ruiz now timed to arrive in Auckland on December 5.
The compromise for the Mexican heavyweight will be to quickly shrug off the effects of travel from the long haul across the Pacific.
He will also be in the unusual position of fighting with a new physique from his bootcamp training regime, a move that has already been questioned with legend Roy Jones Jnr believing Ruiz's considerable weight loss could affect his ability to take the heavy punches that are sure to come from Parker.
Ruiz's buildup is further complicated by Sanchez having to be in Moscow the week before the Auckland fight, to oversee Murat Gassiev's fight against fellow Russian Denis Lebedev for the WBA and IBF cruiserweight belts on December 3.
Sanchez plans a hectic travel schedule that will see him fly from Moscow back to Los Angeles and then on to Auckland.
Sanchez is no stranger to Ruiz but this is the first time he will work his corner on fight night.
Parker's last two rivals, Carlos Takam and Alexander Dimitrenkov, both arrived in Auckland more than two weeks out from their bouts, allowing plenty of time to adjust to local conditions for fights that had the IBF mandatory position on the line.
In contrast a relaxed Parker, mentally and physically on song, has kept to the routine that has brought him so much success at home during his unbeaten run over 21 fights that include 18 knockouts.
He has had eight weeks training in Vegas, a camp specifically designed to counter the considerable challenges of Ruiz's fast hands and deceptive movement, which he and trainer Kevin Barry have declared a success.
Now it's time for tapering. Parker believes a two-week fine-tuning period at home works best for him to round out his fight preparations.
He's even come in a day earlier this time - he has a bit on his plate, eager to catch up with his new-born baby girl.
- Stuff