Joseph Parker vs. Zhilei Zhang | SKY PPV - 8 March 2024

[joshj909]

Think Big Bang times Parker way better than Wilder did and catches him.

Zhang is way more skilled offensively than Wilder, who seems to rely on a single KO punch. Zhang has handspeed, combinations and power.

[Oiky]

Good start to the year for the sport, can Parker out box Zhang for the full 12? I got a feeling zhang finds his chin

Parker doesn't just stand in front of you though like Joyce.

I do like how Parker was aggressive with Wilder.. Maybe he should take a similar approach. In and out. clusters

Yeah Parker is much more elusive, just have a feeling that he will end up getting caught cold, that's not based on any educated theory though that's just a feeling I have tbh.

The whole joyce approach to zhang was dumb, it's all fun and games telling everyone you're built different and can take more punishment than anyone else until All of a sudden you realise you're not built different at all you just hadn't come across the one who could give you your medicine yet.

[omalley]

Zhang is skilled and dangerous, but he is too old and too heavy. At 277-287 lbs (125-130 kg) he is clearly overweight. He will be 41 in May.
I don't see it as 50/50 fight. With right gameplan, Parker to score a wide decision.

[omalley]

Hrg gave the blue print how to fight and beat Zhang

I disagree completely. Hrgovic-Zhang was a very close fight, Hrgovic was down, and he was so slow, as if he and Zhang were the same age.

[IRONFIST]

Big Bang Zhang to muller Parker.

The top chaps are avoiding Zhang and Sanchez.

[IRONFIST]

Hrg gave the blue print how to fight and beat Zhang

I disagree completely. Hrgovic-Zhang was a very close fight, Hrgovic was down, and he was so slow, as if he and Zhang were the same age.

Zhang was robbed in that fight and the boxing world knows it.

[jameswilson]

This is a great chief support. Nullifies the risk of buying the card if AJ ends up getting Ngannou out early.

[jameswilson]

Hrg gave the blue print how to fight and beat Zhang

I disagree completely. Hrgovic-Zhang was a very close fight, Hrgovic was down, and he was so slow, as if he and Zhang were the same age.

Zhang was robbed in that fight and the boxing world knows it.

I had it to Zhang but don’t consider it a robbery.

How did you score it?

[tonyevs]

I disagree completely. Hrgovic-Zhang was a very close fight, Hrgovic was down, and he was so slow, as if he and Zhang were the same age.

Zhang was robbed in that fight and the boxing world knows it.

I had it to Zhang but don’t consider it a robbery.

How did you score it?

I too thought Hrg deserved the decision.
Hrg took it to Zhang for long spells of the fight and showed to beat Zhang you can`t allow him to set himself.

Joyce tried to get outside the lead foot foot, but as others have said, Zhang is a skilled fighter - if a couple stone too heavy and a few years too old - Zhang just kept standing on Joyces foot to stop him getting outside ... then boom!!

I think its a close fight and won`t be surprised if Zhang times Parker coming in, but I just think Parker is wrong for Zhang as Zhang was wrong for Joyce.

[skanksta]

Big Bang looked amazing vs The Juggernaut, but styles make fights and all that.
Anyone who is easy to hit is in trouble vs Zhang, but surely Parker can box and move and win a fairly facile decision..?

With hindsight he probably coulda done that vs Joyce..?

[joshj909]

Big Bang looked amazing vs The Juggernaut, but styles make fights and all that.
Anyone who is easy to hit is in trouble vs Zhang, but surely Parker can box and move and win a fairly facile decision..?

With hindsight he probably coulda done that vs Joyce..?

From memory, I think Parker struggled with Joyce's jab a bit but more importantly, his workrate. Not sure Zhang will have the same workrate or patience with the jab but he would take opportunities in openings set up by the jab moreso than Joyce. Joshua mostly kept Parker at the end of his jab whereas Whyte just went toe to toe with Parker.

[SeanBrennan]

Parker really earned his place on the card.

Anyone know what likely purses will be?

Guessing few mil each, heard AJ getting 50m and Ngannou 20m, dollars that is, not real money.

thanks Roy. Laughed at the not real money bit :)

[skanksta]

Money isn’t real unless it has a King or Queen on it obviously, but yet I wouldn’t mind $20m of that funny dollars stuff you speak of…

[Nightmare Roy]

Money isn’t real unless it has a King or Queen on it obviously, but yet I wouldn’t mind $20m of that funny dollars stuff you speak of…

me neither 10% would sort me out for life I reckon

[margaret thatcher]

half of boxrec's top ten got * next to their names thanks to the saudis

[Ruthless-RKO]

‘Once I’m in that ring, I feel like home’: Zhilei Zhang talks big upcoming fights in Saudi Arabia



Zhang on how Anthony Joshua should approach his fight against Francis Ngannou
“I think what Joshua should do is approach him smartly. Do not go in just trying to bang him out, knock him out because Ngannou has the power and he is a strong individual. And when that punch lands because you’re careless, that’s a disaster. So I think Joshua should set him up using his boxing skill, using his footwork and setting him up little by little.”

On getting a number of big events from Saudi Arabia lately
“I think his excellency in Saudi Arabia, they really turned boxing around. We can see that boxing is shifting center from traditionally those locations in The States and in the UK to Saudi Arabia. Big fights are happening, the strongest is fighting the strongest, and the most popular is fighting the most popular. So I really appreciate that because that’s what we’re fighting for, to have this platform to showcase our ability against a strong guy that equally wanting the fight just like us.”

On if he believes people are generally overblowing Ngannou’s knockdown of Tyson Fury
“I don’t even think Tyson Fury trained for the Ngannou fight. He probably took it not seriously. I don’t know what he did in that camp but he looked like he didn’t even train one day for that fight. So with Usyk I think it comes down to his preparation. He’s obviously having his physical advantage: he’s taller, he’s having longer reach, and in a way he’s stronger. So I think if he takes it seriously he’s going to pull this off.”

On if he feels pressure to really show out against Joseph Parker in order to land a fight against Joshua
“No pressure because I feel like if I train daily, I train consistently and I put myself at a very high standard, I should be able to perform 100% in the ring. And once I’m in that ring, no matter where the location is, I feel like home. And my opponent, his coach, his team, they’re my guests. I’ll treat them with respect, but I’ll treat them well.”

On who he believes will win between Artur Beterbiev and Dmirty Bivol
“I think that’s a great fight...Beterbiev is just better on the record and better in the ring. I feel like if that fight happens, they’re both great fighters, but Beterbiev will hurt him. He will probably end this fight with a knockout.

“I think in that particular case Beterbiev’s power will overwhelm Bivol’s in-and-out footwork and his skill set. The reason being Beterbiev is just way too strong in his division.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Charles lavished praise on Lee and Parker.

“I think it’s an intriguing fight and you have to commend both men, Andy Lee and Parker on the brilliant game plan they used against Wilder. I hold my hands up, I was wrong.

“Parker was that good on the night with the gameplan he became the puncher on the night against a renowned puncher so who am I to doubt him against Zhang who is also a puncher and a southpaw.”

He then cautioned about what Zhang brings and said it was a hard fight to call.

“He’s a big man, it’s a very good match-up. Joseph is going into this fight with a short pace in between so will use the momentum of the Wilder victory and take it into the Zhang fight. Very hard to call.

“Joseph being the technical fighter he is, and Andy Lee, there’s a really good match up there, they understand each other. They’re going to devise another masterclass plan to negate Zhang and be successful but Zhang is no joke, he’s a serious heavyweight, a good fighter. I’m looking forward to it.”

[Oiky]

Fancy Zhang for a KO.

[Grilling Machine]

We know Zhang gets outworked if his fierce counters don't stop opponents or slow them to his pace.

Hrg outboxed him at times but shelled when hurt, whereas I expect Parker to push through adversity until he wins or gets stopped. Favouring Zhang early and Parker late seems an easy guess, but I think this is one of those hard picks that'll be obvious straight after!

I think the only surprise would be Parker nailing him early and managing to finish the job. To come off the fence a bit, I fancy Parker to be too brave at some point and get clipped. Zhang by TKO.

[coneye]

We know Zhang gets outworked if his fierce counters don't stop opponents or slow them to his pace.

Hrg outboxed him at times but shelled when hurt, whereas I expect Parker to push through adversity until he wins or gets stopped. Favouring Zhang early and Parker late seems an easy guess, but I think this is one of those hard picks that'll be obvious straight after!

I think the only surprise would be Parker nailing him early and managing to finish the job. To come off the fence a bit, I fancy Parker to be too brave at some point and get clipped. Zhang by TKO.

Sort of agree with that statement , Parker too brave at some point , gets clipped , thats how i sort of seen it ,, been thinking if i was training Zang what would i have him do , and keep coming to the thoughts be paitent , let him get brave , then turn it on , when he comes for you , basicly just draw him in ... There now Parkers read this he's gona get cautius and make us lok silly

[SeanBrennan]

I do think Parker could get Zhang in later rounds as a Near 41-year old man is going to get tired and he's gassed before.

[KiwiRider]

I do think Parker could get Zhang in later rounds as a Near 41-year old man is going to get tired and he's gassed before.

Same.
If Parker survives the first five rounds, even if he is behind on the cards, he still can pull back a points win. Making Zhang work is the key, his stamina falls off a cliff if he doesn't dictate the pace.
Let's face it, Joyce was there to be hit by Zhang, I'm not sure Parker will be.

[SeanBrennan]

I do think Parker could get Zhang in later rounds as a Near 41-year old man is going to get tired and he's gassed before.

Same.
If Parker survives the first five rounds, even if he is behind on the cards, he still can pull back a points win. Making Zhang work is the key, his stamina falls off a cliff if he doesn't dictate the pace.
Let's face it, Joyce was there to be hit by Zhang, I'm not sure Parker will be.

definitely. I do like how Parker conducts himself as well, never trash talk, or excuses.

[Kilburn]

If I had to put the house on this, it would be Parker on points.

Tricky customers who are proven over 12 rounds, surely aren’t Zhang’s bag.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou: Sky Sports Box Office to broadcast heavyweight clash live on March 8

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will meet in heavyweight clash live on Sky Sports Box Office on March 8; boxing superstar Joshua is the former WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion working his way back to the top of the sport; Ngannou, a UFC champion, fights AJ after Tyson Fury bout

The Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou heavyweight clash will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Box Office on Friday March 8.

Joshua, the former unified WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion, will fight Ngannou, the one-time UFC titlist whose sudden appearance in boxing has taken the sport by storm, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

Sky Sports Managing Director, Jonathan Licht, said: "As the unrivalled home for sports fans in the UK and Ireland, Sky Sports is thrilled to offer our customers the chance to watch this eagerly awaited clash."

Joshua is on a three-bout winning streak after rebuilding from a second consecutive loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2022.

Most recently he dominated Otto Wallin, forcing the Swedish contender to retire on his stool after five rounds.

Mixed martial arts star Ngannou will only be having his second professional boxing bout, but he almost secured one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history in his first.

Last October Ngannou made his pro boxing debut against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in a 10-round non-title bout.

But Ngannou shocked the world when he dropped Fury in their third round. Ngannou went on to lose on a split decision.

Now he will take on another boxing superstar in Joshua and the winner of the fight will be well-placed to challenge for a world title further down the line.

On the undercard, after upsetting Deontay Wilder, New Zealand's Joseph Parker will take on fearsome heavyweight Zhilei Zhang, who twice stopped Joe Joyce last year to win and retain the WBO Interim strap.

Liverpool's unbeaten Nick Ball will also challenge Rey Vargas for the WBC featherweight title.

In an all-British bout, Mark Chamberlain will fight Gavin Gwynne for the European lightweight championship.

Also on the bill will be Australian heavyweight prospect Justis Huni, Tyson Fury's brother Roman Fury, British super-welterweight Jack McGann and local fighter Ziyad Almaayouf.

Watch Joshua vs Ngannou live on Sky Sports Box Office on Friday March 8.