The WBO ruled on Thursday that Andy Ruiz Jr. and Joseph Parker will be allowed to fight for the vacant WBO heavyweight title after Tyson Fury vacated his belts last week, a source confirmed to RingTV.com.

The camps are targeting Dec. 10 in Parker’s home of New Zealand, though the sides are still hammering out a deal, the source said. Fury relinquished the WBA and WBO titles to focus on his personal issues, which include struggles with cocaine, alcohol and depression. The WBO made its decision at their annual convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Thursday. The news was first reported by Dan Rafael of ESPN.com.

Parker (21-0, 18 knockouts) is currently ranked No. 1 in the WBO’s October rankings, Ruiz (29-0, 19 KOs) is No. 3. The No. 2 ranked fighter, Wladimir Klitschko is in talks to face Anthony Joshua for the IBF title, as well as the WBA belt if the WBA allows it. Ruiz, a talented, rotund heavyweight who is now trained by Abel Sanchez, last fought on Sept. 10, winning a decision against Franklin Lawrence.

Parker is also the IBF mandatory for Joshua’s title but has elected to go a different path to a belt. He last fought on Oct. 1, destroying Alexander Dimitrenko in three rounds (with four knockdowns). When the fight comes about with Ruiz, it will be Parker’s fifth fight this year and Ruiz’s fourth.

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