Andy Ruiz (L) and Joseph Parker, Final press conference before the December 10, Parker v Ruiz, WBO world boxing heavyweight title fight. Photo / Photosport.co.nz.
Andy Ruiz (L) and Joseph Parker, Final press conference before the December 10, Parker v Ruiz, WBO world boxing heavyweight title fight. Photo / Photosport.co.nz.
Is Andy Ruiz Junior "doing a David Tua" and doing his best to hide his height difference with Joseph Parker?
Ever since the American Mexican boxer arrived in New Zealand more than a week ago, he has worn something on his head - either a hoody, a baseball cap ora beanie - whenever posing for pictures alongside his heavyweight rival.
In fact, ahead of today's weigh-in in Auckland, the Herald struggled to find a photo of the pair together where Ruiz doesn't have some form of attire on his head that makes him looker taller than he really is.
It's a tactic Tua employed in the build-up to his world championship fight against Lennox Lewis in 2000 in Nevada.
Tua, who is 1.78 metres tall, was giving away a massive 17 cm height difference to the massive Briton, who is 1.95m, and virtually grew his hair upwards to make himself look taller alongside Lewis.
It made Tua look like a younger version of electric-haired boxing promoter Don King and in the end, didn't make much difference as the south Auckland boxer lost a lopsided fight to Lewis in an unanimous decision.
Parker is 1.93m and enjoys a 7cm height advantage over Ruiz, and has a longer reach. So maybe the shorter American Mexican is trying to pull off a psychological trick similar to what Tua attempted.
One thing is for sure - he won't be wearing a hat in the ring tomorrow night at Vector Arena.
