Joseph Parker has shared the ring with some ferocious punchers, but Anthony Joshua didn’t hit hardest.

Parker has been in and around the heavyweight world title mix throughout his career, and has fought some huge names including Joshua, Dillian Whyte and more recently Deontay Wilder.

Joshua outboxed and defeated Parker in a punishing clash.

But one of his more notable wins came against Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2016, where he picked up a majority decision win across the twelve round distance.

And in an interview in 2020, long before he fought the likes of Wilder, Derek Chisora and Zhilei Zhang, Parker declared Ruiz as the toughest-hitting.

He told Ring Magazine: “Dillian Whyte did drop me, but with Ruiz, I really felt the sting in his punches.

“I think it was a left hook he caught me with in our fight that hurt me. From that point on, in the whole fight, I was deaf in one ear.”

Parker went on to name Ruiz as being the best boxer he fought, with the best chin and fastest hands.

He added: “He has a lot of s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 and he showed it in our fight; he was difficult to hit.

“All that experience he had in the amateurs has really helped him in the pros.

“I hit him with a few good shots that had a bit of pop behind them, but he just ate them and kept coming.

“I think it’s his body type; he is compact and tucks his chin into his neck and comes forward. He rolls with the punches and doesn’t really catch them clean.

“It’s the hand speed that makes Andy’s punches so effective.”

Parker narrowly edged heavy-handed Ruiz on the scorecards.

Despite not naming Joshua as the heaviest hitter, he did name him as the best overall fighter he duelled.

He concluded: “Leading into our fight, he was very professional. And what he did in the ring, being able to use his jab and his boxing s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s to keep me at bay.

“He uses his height and his reach very well. And I thought his performance in the rematch with Ruiz was great, it was a boxing lesson.

“He boxed, he moved, he punched without getting hit. I bet some of my family members that AJ was going to win that rematch, they had Ruiz. My family paid up.”

Parker was beaten by AJ in 2018 in a huge clash for the IBF, WBA and his WBO title, but was the first to take the talented star the full twelve-round distance.

Having made a name of himself on British shores, the former champion returned to face Whyte just four months afterwards but suffered a second career defeat.

It has been a slow and steady rebuild for the New Zealander who defeated the likes of Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora twice during a heavyweight rebuild over the years that followed.

And two consecutive wins over Wilder and in thrilling fashion against Zhilei Zhang in December 2023 and in March, have seen him return right in the mix for a title shot.

He will likely face a wait for a title shot while the heavyweight mix resolves itself, with the titles fragmenting after Tyson Fury was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed crown in May.

Parker has a bright future ahead of him after some high-level wins

Ruiz, who Parker gave the ultimate praise too, is still active and has recently fought to a controversial draw against Jarrell Miller.

He has suffered a broken hand injury which will rule him out of action for some time.

But prior to his latest outing, he insisted a sequel with Parker is something that carries serious appeal to him.

“I’d love to get that rematch,” he said.

“I’ll fight against anyone else after this fight. I just want to fight the top guys man.

“Joseph Parker is doing amazing things right now. He beat Wilder and he beat Zhang. I’d love to fight him too.

“I had a lot of rollercoasters and a lot of up and downs over the years.”