Joseph Parker was recently asked which of his former opponents have hit him the hardest so far in his career.
Parker is one of the best-ranked heavyweights in the game right now. In the last couple of years – after previous set backs and against Dillian Whyte, Anthony Joshua and Joe Joyce – he has beaten former world champion and massive puncher Deontay Wilder on points, and repeated the trick dangerman Zhilei Zhang in June last year.
Last time out in February, he was due to take on IBF champion Daniel Dubois but the Brit fell ill and withdrew late in the day. Instead, the in-form Parker took on the late stand-in replacement Martin Bakole and stopped him inside two rounds.
Speaking to Casino Hawks, Parker overlooked all of the powerful heavyweights mentioned above when asked who has hit him the hardest, instead naming Andy Ruiz Jr.
“Andy Ruiz! He had sharp and quick punches which knocked me down. Dillian Whyte and Joe Joyce also knocked me down. Those guys are power punchers, but Andy Ruiz’s ones are the ones I remember.”
Parker lifted the WBO world title after narrowly beating Ruiz in December 2016 on points. The Mexican American would bounce back in 2019 on the biggest stage when he upset Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden to become the unified heavyweight champion.
After losing the rematch, Ruiz’ career stagnated and he was last out with a controversial draw against Jarrell Miller. He has since recovered from a hand injury suffered early on in the bout, though a return is not yet official.
