By Keith Idec

Joseph Parker wasn’t spectacular, but he did enough to make history Saturday.

The popular heavyweight from New Zealand out-boxed American Andy Ruiz to win a 12-round majority decision and the vacant WBO world heavyweight title at a sold-out Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand.

The 24-year-old Parker (22-0, 18 KOs) used his jab and athleticism to beat Ruiz by scores of 115-113, 115-113 and 114-114 in a tactical, mostly uneventful fight. The 27-year-old Ruiz, of Imperial, California, lost for the first time in his seven years as a professional (29-1, 19 KOs).

“Wow! What a dream come true,” Parker said in the ring after his narrow win. “We told you guys Andy Ruiz was a great fighter, with a lot of speed and a lot power. He showed that tonight.”

A patient Parker didn’t take many chances in the bout, but the Auckland native accomplished enough to win the WBO title England’s Tyson Fury relinquished in mid-October to focus on his recovery from drug addiction and depression.

Parker’s victory will be broadcast by HBO on Saturday night at 9:35 p.m. ET. The Parker-Ruiz fight will be part of a “World Championship Boxing” tripleheader that’ll feature a 12-round bout between WBC/WBO super lightweight champion Terence Crawford (29-0, 20 KOs), of Omaha, Nebraska, and John Molina Jr. (29-6, 23 KOs), of Covina, California.

Molina was more than three pounds overweight at Friday’s weigh-in and cannot win Crawford’s titles.

In Auckland, meanwhile, the 6-foot-4, 247-pound Parker boxed well at times. The emerging star often was reluctant, though, to trade with a consistently aggressive Ruiz, whose movement and skill defy the 6-2, 256-pound contender’s body type.

“I think I got the win, but at least it was a draw,” Ruiz said. “We both did a good job. We both fought. Congratulations to Joseph Parker.”

A busier Ruiz started strong, as he appeared to out-box Parker in the second and third rounds. Parker responded by boxing better in the fourth and fifth rounds, when he began using his jab effectively as Ruiz tried to walk him down.

Parker seemed to win the sixth and seventh rounds, though not in overly impressive fashion. Ruiz rallied in the eighth round, when he landed a couple of solid right hands from close range.

Parker took the ninth round, but Ruiz landed several noteworthy power punches in the 10th round to keep Parker honest. Parker regained control in the 11th and 12th rounds, and fended off the hard-charging Ruiz just enough to win on two of the three scorecards.

“I think I had the pace by throwing the jab to the body and the face,” Ruiz said. “We both did a great job. … Hopefully I’ll come back [to New Zealand], and maybe we’ll get the rematch.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.