Bob Arum - Joseph Parker can go all the way, but needs to offer rematch

Notorious boxing promoter Bob Arum thinks Joseph Parker has what it takes to become the undisputed heavyweight champion but thinks Andy Ruiz deserves a rematch. Photo / Photosport

Notorious boxing promoter Bob Arum believes Joseph Parker will become the undisputed heavyweight champion in years to come, but admits a rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr would be appropriate.

Speaking to Newstalk ZB's Tony Veitch, Arum first took on the haters, stating the fight was fair and no one was "robbed".

"Could it have gone either way? Yeah," Arum said.

"I think [Parker] did enough to pull out a round here and there to win the fight, but it was a very, very close fight. No, [Ruiz] wasn't robbed. The fight could have gone either way. If it had gone for Andy Ruiz, Parker wouldn't have been robbed.

"Judges are human, but they are three of the best judges in the world, and they saw the fight the way they saw the fight.

"It wasn't decisive, but it was a fair result."

Listen: Bob Arum talks to Tony Veitch

It's no secret, many boxing fans wanted Parker to finish Ruiz off for a decisive win, but Arum doesn't think that was plausible to begin with.

"You can't own Andy Ruiz," he said. "If he had traded with Andy Ruiz for 12 rounds, I don't think he would have come out on top."

And after a very tough fight, Arum thinks Ruiz deserves a rematch from Parker.

"I think down the road, a rematch would be appropriate, it would be huge.

"But they should each fight someone else in the interim."

Arum also wanted to dispel any notions that the WBO wasn't a genuine title to fight for.

"The WBO is perhaps the leading boxing organisations," he said.

"For me, the WBO is worth more than the other three belts.

"I think Parker stacks up against the champions of these other organisations - I think he's the real goods.

"I think as the years go on, I think he'll be the undisputed champion. Heavyweights really don't reach their prime until they are in their 30s."