Boxing: Heavyweight belt a hit with fans

Dillon Kennedy holds the WBO Heavyweight Title on the line when Joseph Parker fights Andy Ruiz on December 10. Photo/John Stone

Boxing fans were treated to a glimpse of the WBO Heavyweight Belt that New Zealand's Joseph Parker desperately wants at Burger King Whangarei today.

Duco Events have taken the belt on a nationwide tour, promoting the fight and endeavouring to get the entire country behind Parker.

Duco's Greg McCalman said the tour has shown how much New Zealand is behind their heavyweight hopeful.

"We've been to 14 different places from Bluff to Whangarei and the public is really getting behind Joseph," he said.

"By the time the bout takes place on December 10, we want everyone in Joe's corner. It helps that he's such a lovely guy."

Parker faces off against Mexican heavyweight Andy Ruiz at Vector Arena on a stacked fight card.

Northland have their ties to the fight, with the nephew of former World Featherweight Champion 'Torpedo' Billy Murphy being a Whangarei local.

Dillon Kennedy said the coming bout for Parker was destined.

"When Duco Events signed Joe for a World Title fight, they set in motion a piece of destiny between him and Billy," he said.

"When Billy ended Ike Weir's 21-bout unbeaten streak by knocking him out in the 13th round of their fight on January 13, 1890, he became the first New Zealander to win any World boxing title."

"As of today, he remains the only New Zealand-born boxer to have won a World Title in any boxing division, but Joseph will be the next, ending a 126-year streak."

"The friends and family of 'Torpedo' Billy Murphy are backing Joseph Parker to end the 126 year long drought."

For those not travelling to Auckland for the fight, Whangarei Lions Club and Farmlands are showing the full card at the Kamo Club.

Whangarei Lions Club's Terry Ward said the funds raised from the night will go to a worthy cause.

"We are helping raise funds to get recliners for the children's ward at the hospital," he said.

"Pretty hopeless if parents have to sleep in a chair, really it's pretty average. There have been people sleeping on mattresses on the floor at the hospital so we want to help out with that as well."

"We got the rights from Gallagher to have a commercial licence, only one other showing it up here. We're working with Kamo Club and they're going to help us. The money is for the Northland Foundation, which is the same group that spearheaded oncology campaign."

Tickets, which are pre-sale only, are available from the Kamo Club and Farmlands for $15 a head.

Ward said there will be a lot going on that night besides the boxing and they hope businesses will get involved.

"There has been lots of exposure so far. There're going to be raffles, food and nibbles, and golf trips and helicopter rides on offer as prizes," he said.

"Being supported by the Lions clubs, we're hoping to make in excess of $5000. We're hoping businesses come on board to sponsor a chair for the hospital."