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Home » Parker-Ruiz approved for WBO title, winner to face Haye, Tyson Fury

Parker-Ruiz approved for WBO title, winner to face Haye, Tyson Fury

The undefeated Kiwi had been in talks with top-ranked contender Andy Ruiz Jr. for the past couple of weeks and can now look forward to the contest following the WBO’s belated blessing.

Parker v Ruiz has been given a date of December 10 with an exact venue to follow and will be the first ever top division title fight held in New Zealand.

Tyson Fury vacated the title last week on the back of revelations about his drug and alcohol problems and Parker joined Ruiz as the next two available contenders.

Talks immediately began in the United States between Parker’s handlers at Duco and Top Rank, the promoters of Ruiz, with an amicable agreement reached within days.

A four-man tournament was being considered by the WBO originally due to questions raised by Frank Warren acting on behalf on fourth-rated David Haye, who has now been ratified to face the winner.

Once Fury is back to full health, the former unified champion will then meet whoever comes out on top from firstly Parker v Ruiz or the next clash with Haye, dependent on the timescale of the 28 year-old’s recovery and of course, his acceptance.

Fury has a chequered history with Haye and vowed never to fight his UK rival after the one-time cruiserweight king pulled out of two scheduled bouts between the pair.