Boxing writer Dan Rafael of ESPN has watched Joseph Parker's progress closely and is impressed with his all-round skills.
Joseph Parker has a much better "total package" than Andy Ruiz and is favored to win their WBO heavyweight title fight.
That's the opinion of Dan Rafael, one of the world's most respected boxing writers who works for ESPN.
Rafael was speaking in Las Vegas with an eager eye on the historic title fight in Auckland on December 10.
The well-connected Rafael has been a keen follower of Parker since he came under the tutelage of Vegas-based New Zealand trainer Kevin Barry.
He predicts Parker will win by knockout though did sound a warning over Mexican Ruiz's gifted hand work.
"Andy's hand speed might be just a little bit quicker than Joe's but the total package, in my opinion, Joe is a much better fighter," Rafael said.
Rafael talked up Parker's movement to go with his heavy hands, believing he had the skills to make an impact in a division that had opened up following the defeat of Wladimir Klitschko and the demise of Tyson Fury.
"He's got obvious punching power. I have seen him score some spectacular knockouts. If you're heavyweight, that's obviously a big deal," Rafael said of Parker.
"But he's light on his feet, he moves really well, it seems to me. I'm not going to say he's the fastest guy but he's very well-schooled in the way of where to place his feet in the ring and where to move in the ring. I'm not saying it's natural, you have to learn that, it takes time, but he seems to understand every square inch of the boxing ring.
"You put that intelligence, and you combine it with fast hands and great punching power and you've got yourself a good boxer."
Rafael, who led the coverage of Fury's spectacular fall from grace that led to the WBO belt being vacated, also put some perspective on the global standing of the organisation.
While it was the youngest of the four organisations, it had now grown in respect to be as worthy as its three rivals.
"The WBO has gained credibility over the years because of the calibre of guys that have held it," Rafael said of the heavyweight belt Parker and Ruiz will battle for over a scheduled 12 rounds.
"The WBO has become much more widely accepted in the United States and Europe for sure. It's gaining acceptance because they have had a lot of good champions through the last 20 years.
"I'm not a huge fan of the sanctioning bodies, anyone who has read me regularly knows that I have had my issues. But, being fair, I think the WBO title in all weight classes at this stage of boxing is equally as important as any other sanctioning body out there."