Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

Sideline Sid has been intrigued by a soap opera that has been playing out in the last few months - no not Shortland Street, but the almost daily media reports on the comings and goings of Joseph Parker.

Let me go on record as saying that I am a fan of Joseph Parker, having called him into the ring in his amateur days in my role of ring announcer at the National Championships.

Joseph has been promoted by Ducco Events from the start of his pay to punch career. The Ducco team have done a magnificent job in positioning Joe into a World Heavyweight title fight in December.

There has been barrowloads of Ducco hyperbole and hype leading into the December fight against Andy Ruiz for the WBO version of the world heavyweight crown.

Every opponent in the last couple of years has been described as dangerous and a big risk for the kiwi heavyweight pugilist.

Three of Parkers opponents this year were all described as likely to bring a big risk and could derail Joseph's title hope - before being planted on the canvas in the early rounds of the respective fights.

The exception was the title eliminator against Carlos Takam, which was a saw Parker survive plenty of pressure before winning a points decision. That fight showed the kiwi heavyweight deserved a place on the world stage.

The last few weeks have evolved into a fairytale, with almost daily media reports of who Joseph is going to fight for the title and then if it's to be a home or away encounter.

While kiwi boxing commentators are predicting a record crowd, if the title bout is staged in New Zealand, it has some way to go beat the biggest fight crowd in our country.

In 1932, Waitara fireman Tommy Donovan took on (and beat) future world featherweight champion Pete Sarron at Kilbirnie Speedway in Wellington, before nearly 18,000 Kiwi fight fans.

Media statements that the Parker verses Ruiz fight, being the first World Heavyweight title contest in New Zealand, aren't strictly correct.

In 1992, Jimmy Thunder fought Englishman Johnny Nelson for the lightly regarded WBF heavyweight title in the big top at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

The World Boxing Federation was an Australian based boxing organisation that held little respect in world boxing circles. For the record Jimmy Thunder lost the fight by unanimous point's decision.

While the New Zealand TAB has Joseph Parker as a hot favourite, this boxing commentator sees the fight as even money with Ruiz a live chance to beat Parker.

Can Joseph win the WBO world title – Yes, if he uses his height and doesn't engage in a war with Ruiz.

Parker will be superbly fit and trained to the minute by Kevin Barry and should have plenty of stamina in the later rounds of the bout.