Joesph Parker

In New Zealand's first ever hosting of the championship bout, Parker, 24, will fight Mexican Andy Ruiz, 27, for the title at Auckland's Vector Arena.

Ruiz, is unbeaten in 29 fights with 19 knockouts while Parker has an unbeaten run of 21 fights with 18 knockouts.

RNZ reports the atmosphere in South Auckland this week is reminiscent of when local fighter David Tua took on three-time heavyweight world champion Canadian boxer Lennox Lewis for the WBC, IBF and IBO titles in 2002.

It is an alignment which Duco Events will seek regardless of whether Parker wins or loses his world heavyweight title fight against Ruiz Jr at Auckland's Vector Arena on December 10.

Barry rates Parker's oppponent American Andy Ruiz as the favourite for the December 10th fight and believes Ruiz has better hand speed than his charge.

But Parker who has just returned from a training camp in Las Vegas said he will prove Barry wrong.

"Andy does have fast hands but I believe I am faster. I'll prove Kevin wrong come fight night that I will be the faster fighter. Kevin did say that Andy was the favourite but he didn't say I was going to lose...this is my time."

This will be Parker's fifth fight of the year but he believes he is in good shape.

Parker's trainer Kevin Barry may have installed Ruiz as favorite for the December 10 bout in Auckland but Parker respectfully challenged his boss's theory that the Mexican had the faster hands backed up by more experience.

"I respect Kevin and his opinion and Andy does have fast hands but I believe I'm faster, so I'll prove Kevin wrong on fight night that I'm the faster fighter," Parker said in his first media conference since arriving home from Las Vegas to finish off his preparations.

The pair will fight for the WBO belt at Vector Arena in less than a fortnight, on December 10.

Parker's trainer Kevin Barry said the 24-year-old heavyweight's past four years as a professional - during which he has won all 21 of his fights - has served as an apprenticeship.

Ruiz has spent eight years as a professional and is unbeaten in 29 fights.

Barry said that gives the visitor a distinct advantage.

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.