Boxing expert Frank Lotierzo ridicules 'hometown decision' in Joseph Parker fight

Joseph Parker with his father Sala . WBO World Heavyweight Title fight Joseph Parker v Andy Ruiz Jr at Vector Arena Auckland, New Zealand. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

A leading international boxing writer has ridiculed suggestions Joseph Parker gained the benefit of a "hometown decision" over Andy Ruiz Junior in last night's WBO heavyweight showdown.

Frank Lotierzo, a key writer for popular global boxing website boxingchannel.tv, said he could not understand claims Parker gained the benefit of a biased judging panel influenced by a vocal crowd at Auckland's Vector Arena.

Lotierzo, considered one of the best boxing analysts in the world, lambasted the judge who declared the bout a draw and felt Ruiz only won three of the 12 rounds - "four tops".

"I see a lot of guys are upset with the decision," he acknowledged. "(But) The fight went pretty much as we expected."

Lotierzo agreed Ruiz started well but said Parker responded well and should have won by more than just the 115-113 scorecard the other judges posted.

"I gave Ruiz three rounds, four rounds top. I'm not saying Parker beat him up, or he dominated him. But he was first, second and third. He won most of the exchanges when he kept to the outside.

"Once they were engaged inside, Ruiz did hit Parker with some big left hooks. But other than that Parker pretty much did what he wanted, and I think he won the fight.

"I don't think he beat him up. I don't even think he outclassed him. I just think he outworked him and he had a more definitive game plan going in as to what it took to win."

Lotierzo, who had 50 fights himself as a middleweight and contributes to several major websites including ESPN, felt Ruiz would regret his failure to take his opportunities in a "winnable fight".

"Parker boxed him, he moved him, he turned him in the corners and Ruiz just plodded and came forward and didn't let his hands go," he said.

"Every time that Ruiz had Parker against the ropes, he did well. But Parker, knowing that, kept his feet moving, kept turning him in the corners, kept popping the jab out and it was just enough to rebut Ruiz.

"Ruiz just followed him around the ring. Now when Parker stopped and they had a couple of exchanges in the middle of the ring, Ruiz did pretty good. But the onus was on him to force Parker to do that.

"Parker was not going to go there on his own - and that's the problem I have with the scoring.

"Look, coming forward is great but you have to be the effective aggressor. Walking forward, not punching is not effective, I'm sorry."

"114-114 is six rounds apiece. 115-113 is seven to five. I can't find five rounds where Ruiz did enough to merit those rounds. You want to tell me that in a few of the rounds, he landed the bigger shots?

"Ok, I'll buy that. And I gave him those rounds - but there just wasn't enough of them.

"I think Parker was just that little bit busier and had a little bit more initiative."

While Parker's handlers Duco Events are talking about his next fight being against British heavyweight Hughie Fury, cousin of former world champ Tyson Fury, Lotierzo believes the Kiwi should target American Deontay Wilder.

He said Parker had the skills to defeat Wilder, who holds the WBC heavyweight title, but should stay away from British star Anthony Joshua and rising Cuban professional Luiz Ortiz.

"If I was managing Parker, and I was going for another big fight, I would try to push him towards Wilder and merge those belts. I think he has a good chance to deal with Wilder.

"I would stay away from Ortiz and I would stay away from Joshua.

"I think he's OK with anybody else.

"I see Parker second, maybe third, in the division. I just think Joshua has the size and the hand speed and the skill to be a problem for him. We know where Ortiz is at.

"I think he (Parker) is OK with anybody else."