WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker failed to impress as he laboured to a points victory over Razvan Cojanu.
After last weekend's epic Wembley clash between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko, the New Zealander was under pressure to make an impact against the late replacement for the injured Hughie Fury.
However, while Parker dominated throughout the bout in Auckland, he never looked like stopping an opponent who soaked up his best punches in going the distance.
Parker will see it as another 12 rounds in the bank, while it will go down in the books as a successful first defence of his world title, but his performance will only offer hope to the likes of Tony Bellew or Dillian Whyte, who are in the running to face Parker in his next outing.
The three judges scored the fight 118-109, 117-111 and 117-111 respectively as Parker extended his unbeaten record to 23 victories in a row.
Darren Plant
