New Zealand Heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker. Photo / www.photosport.nz
New Zealand Heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker. Photo / www.photosport.nz
Vector Arena was transformed into boxing central last night as 10,000 fight fans packed the stands - and ringside corporate areas - to watch Joseph Parker try to create history.
As well as Kiwi sporting fans who secured tickets for the first world heavyweight title fight to be hosted in New Zealand, a host of prominent Kiwi celebs were also on hand for Parker's shot at sporting greatness against hard-hitting Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr.
The crowd included outgoing Prime Minister John Key, and his replacement Bill English. Other politicians in attendance included Judith Collins, Winston Peters and Su'a William Sio, as well as Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
Victoria Cross winner and former SAS trooper Willie Apiata was looking resplendent in his No 1s, complete with his military medals.
Willie Apiata (C) at the world title fight. Photo / Twitter
World Cup-winning All Black hero and current All Black selector Grant Fox was among a host of rugby royalty at the fight night; other footy heroes included Sir Graham Henry and Jerome Kaino. League was also represented by Warriors hero Manu Vatuvei and Sir Peter Leitch.
Race Relations Commissioner and former squash world champion Dame Susan Devoy was also in attendance.
And the fight night started well for the Parker camp, with Joseph's younger brother John winning a unanimous points decision on the first undercard fight.
John Parker won all four rounds against Christchurch's Ash McConville.
Judith Collins and Su'a William Sio at Vector Arena. Photo / Twitter
Joseph Parker was watching ringside ahead of his world title fight.
Speaking as the crowd started filling the downtown Auckland venue, fight promoter Dean Lonergan told the Herald on Sunday of the huge pride he had in Duco Events securing rights to host the title bout in New Zealand.
He said the venue was just 120 short of being an official sell-out.
"This is a historic event for New Zealand it's a historic event for boxing, and also a historic event for our company - it's not every day you get to promote a heavyweight title and to do it on our home turf is really gratifying," he said.
Sir Peter Leitch, right and Colonel Bob Sherdian, left. Photo / www.photosport.nz
"The stadium's nearly sold out and we're going really well on TV [with pay-per-view sales] so we couldn't be happier. If Joseph was to win my goodness me we'd be in raptures [on Sunday]."
Tickets for the fight were hot property, with punters lured in both by the massive hype surrounding Parker and the chance to see the first WBO heavyweight title fight on our shores.
"It's just huge to have boxing in New Zealand, on such an international scale," said Aucklander Tana Valeni.
"I've only been following first Tua and now Parker but it's just exciting, it's huge. Expensive tickets but I just wanted to be part of it."
Parker took the ring after the first edition of the Herald on Sunday went to print.
In the lead-up to the bout punters seemed split on who was going to win.
The TAB was offering odds of $1.30pm on Parker, compared to $3.30 on Ruiz.
The TAB's Mark Stafford said the money was fairly evenly split between the two fighters. In the hours leading up to fight-time Stafford said the biggest bet was $5000 for Parker to win.
