Joseph Parker

The venue was confirmed at a media conference this morning.

The New Zealand boxer is set to face the Mexican-American Ruiz on 10 December.

Duco chief executive Martin Snedden said it had been a "rocky, volatile" few weeks, as he confirmed the Auckland venue.

But he said it was now time to enjoy the build-up to next month's bout.

"This will capture people in Auckland and New Zealand Joseph has become a figure new Zealanders have really warmed to."

The New Zealand boxer is set to face Mexican-American Andy Ruiz for the WBO title on 10 December.

Parker's promoters Duco have been trying to secure the seven-figure sum required for the fight to happen in Auckland, but had withdrawn their bid for public money to help stage the event citing reaction from the public, media and politicians.

Parker is set to face Mexican/American Andy Ruiz for the WBO world heavyweight title on 10 December.

Parker's promoters Duco have been trying desperately to secure the seven-figure sum required for the title fight to happen in Auckland, which would be one of the biggest one-off events to occur in New Zealand.

But at a news conference in Auckland, Duco owner David Higgins said it was withdrawing its application for funding to Major Events New Zealand after studying the reaction of the public, the media and politicians.

RNZ reports promoter Dean Lonergan has asked the government to help foot some of the bill for the WBO title bout against Mexican Andy Ruiz.

But he said millions of dollars in sponsorship still needed to be raised in the next week if the fight was to go ahead in Auckland.

"We're under huge time pressure because the fight's down for December 10 and that's very close," he said.

It was looking likely the fight would be held in the United States instead, he said.

RNZ reports Andy Ruiz has an unbeaten run over 21 fights, with 18 knockouts. The New Zealand boxer Joseph Parker will fight Mexican Andy Ruiz for the WBO world heavyweight title in Auckland in December.

The WBO title was vacated by Briton Tyson Fury earlier this month after revelations he was suffering from depression and drug addiction.

WBO gave the order for Parker and Ruiz to fight during its convention in San Juan, in Puerto Rico.

The bout is likely to be on 10 December.

Klitschko says he will only take the December 10 fight in Manchester if the WBA belt is on the line too.

The WBA and WBO belts have been freed up by Tyson Fury who handed them over to concentrate on his battles with depression and drug use.

Joshua's manager Eddie Hearn said the next 48 hours would be vital as they seek a ruling from the WBA. In the meantime he confirmed he is looking at other options.

Hearn's easiest backup route is to call out Parker who is the mandatory challenger with the IBF.

Parker's win over giant Russian Alexander Dimitrenko last weekend in Auckland has him in the thick of the mix of the title talk.

He has to be on his guard because the possibility of a mandatory shot against IBF champion Anthony Joshua in Manchester on November 26 remains a possibility.

His preferred option is to arrange a December 10 title fight with Mexican Andy Ruiz in New Zealand and that's what his promoters Duco Events continue to work towards.

Parker's ideal training camps are around eight weeks, so there is no time to lose.

Parker has the mandatory rights to fight Joshua, possibly as early as November 26 in Manchester, though the Brit's clever promoter Eddie Hearns is swaying towards a more lucrative bout with former champion Wladimir Klitschko.

That has left Parker's handlers looking at a cheeky bid to get a WBO title fight against Mexican Andy Ruiz in New Zealand.

That mightn't be a bad thing for Joshua, according to two former British stars, Spencer Oliver and Darren Barker, who front a boxing show for Sky Sports in the UK.

He was born and raised in South Auckland and said one of his biggest achievements was winning a bronze medal for Tonga in the super heavyweight division at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

He's best known for being the man who stopped Parker from going to the 2012 London Olympics and of their four amateur encounters, the pair have won two each.

But instead of following the same path as Parker, Fa decided to get a job and start a family.

RNZ reports Junior Fa will fight in his sixth professional bout against Samoan heavyweight Alapati A'asa on Parker's undercard.

But this won't be the first time Parker and Fa have been in the same ring.

The pair have faced each other four times during their amateur career - both winning two each.

While Parker went pro, Fa decided to start a family and get a full time job.

Now, three years later, Fa's returning to the ring where he hopes to carve out his own path in the professional boxing world with the help of Olympic shot putter, Jacko Gill.