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

[SeanBrennan]

Boxing News would surely be happy to do an article and interview on this too

[Giancarlo]

I'm going for Parker on points.

Obviously he needs to avoid the majority of Zhang's power punches, keep turning the big old lad, tire him out and wear him down.

It's not an easy job but I think Joyce's 'tactic' of blocking punches with his head made Zhilei look a bit better than he really is; could be wrong but that's my pre-fight thoughts.

Looking forward to the fight.

Also, I agree with Spud that Wilder is completely shot.

[Kilburn]

I honestly don’t know what it is that Wilder used to do, that he didn’t / couldn’t do against Parker.

His resume is horrible.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[SeanBrennan]

Fight Week!!

who have you got mate?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

who have you got mate?

I want Parker.

I think it’s 50-50 though

[SeanBrennan]

Fight Week!!

who have you got mate?

I want Parker.

I think it’s 50-50 though

I want Parker too mate and make Zhang the favourite.

[Controversial]

Zhang 291.6lbs
Parker 247.6lbs

Massive weight for Zhang, career heaviest and 44lb more than Parker

[KiwiRider]

Zhang is coming in heavy for this one!
His most mobile opponent with the quickest hands in a while (Forest?) and he comes in at 290+
They must have a plan to finish this early? His cardio wasn't the best at 275+.
I would think the opposite for a guy over 40 with stamina issues facing a mover who has recently done 12 rounds fairly easily?

[KiwiRider]

I want to change my prediction.

Initially I said Parker for the win as long as he survives the first 6 rounds, and hasn't been down.
I want to shorten that to:
Surviving the first 4 rounds, then stopping* Zhang in the later rounds.


* mostly due to Zhangs exhaustion, not Parkers power

[gregregegg]

zhang has put on 1% additional body weight since his carrer best performance... and people are shocked/concerned/reading into it...

Additional when zhang came in light he nearly died of tirednes vs forrest.

I expect parker to where zang down and stop him late. but if i was a zhang fan i wouldent be too concerned at his extra 3 lbs from the version of zhang that sparked out joyce...

[SeanBrennan]

I want to change my prediction.

Initially I said Parker for the win as long as he survives the first 6 rounds, and hasn't been down.
I want to shorten that to:
Surviving the first 4 rounds, then stopping* Zhang in the later rounds.


* mostly due to Zhangs exhaustion, not Parkers power

Zhang has suffered stamina issues in the past, could happen. And he's not a young man either. Parker has nearly a decade on him. And much more experience at elite level.

[Spud]

What is his power like from close proximity? They must have been fabulous sparring sessions to watch.

Did you get to know Deontay or was standoffish? He seems quite talkative in interviews.

Why does Wilder appear shot to you? Is it his timing or speed? He has such an unusual style that it's hard to gage.

He was a fantastic bloke. I spent hours with him talking boxing.

His speed and timing was excellent in sparring as it was in his fights. Prior to the Fury fights.

Alas I think Tyson has punched the fight out of Deontay.

I wonder if Wilder has punched the fight out of Fury a little, too. Their third fight was absolutely brutal. Too hard, for both of them.

If Wilder is a spent force then I sincerely hope he retires rather than become a 'name' for people to have on their records.

I hope you write your memoirs someday. Would be a fascinating read: serving one's country and the boxing industry. I hope you are proud of your career and get it recorded for posterity.

Deontay became very good friends with Richard Towers.

Although I am bald, Richard used to make my hair curl with his stories .

[jameswilson]

I want to change my prediction.

Initially I said Parker for the win as long as he survives the first 6 rounds, and hasn't been down.
I want to shorten that to:
Surviving the first 4 rounds, then stopping* Zhang in the later rounds.


* mostly due to Zhangs exhaustion, not Parkers power

Zhang has suffered stamina issues in the past, could happen. And he's not a young man either. Parker has nearly a decade on him. And much more experience at elite level.

I think Zhang wins it but obviously all the results are in play I think. Bottom line. I can't f ucking wait to watch this fight.

When Zhang got on the scales and Eddie Hearn looked at the reading and pulled a face I knew he must be well over 20 stone.

[KiwiRider]

zhang has put on 1% additional body weight since his carrer best performance... and people are shocked/concerned/reading into it...

Additional when zhang came in light he nearly died of tirednes vs forrest.

I expect parker to where zang down and stop him late. but if i was a zhang fan i wouldent be too concerned at his extra 3 lbs from the version of zhang that sparked out joyce...

His weight for the Forrest fight was around his average prior to that.
I'm looking back through his fights, in his prime (early to mid 30's) he was 255-265.
Now as he gets older, he gets gradually heavier until this fight he is at 291 @ 40 years old.
Might be the perfect plan, might not. Seems counterintuitive.

[gregregegg]

zhang has put on 1% additional body weight since his carrer best performance... and people are shocked/concerned/reading into it...

Additional when zhang came in light he nearly died of tirednes vs forrest.

I expect parker to where zang down and stop him late. but if i was a zhang fan i wouldent be too concerned at his extra 3 lbs from the version of zhang that sparked out joyce...

His weight for the Forrest fight was around his average prior to that.
I'm looking back through his fights, in his prime (early to mid 30's) he was 255-265.
Now as he gets older, he gets gradually heavier until this fight he is at 291 @ 40 years old.
Might be the perfect plan, might not. Seems counterintuitive.

zhangs prime is an interesting question... I would say his best preformance was joyce 2, second best preformance was joyce 1 and 3rd best preformance is hrgovic.... all pretty heavy, all very old. . they are not your classic "prime years" but i do think somehow its been his prime.

If i were zhang even though parker is a wildly different opponent, If i felt good at approx 290 last fight, i wouldent look to change much weight wise this fight.

As i said im backing parker to wear him down and stop him whether zhang is 250 or 300 lb. if zhangs going to win he will need to land somthing big early, and its hardly unlikely.

[Giancarlo]

zhangs prime is an interesting question... I would say his best preformance was joyce 2, second best preformance was joyce 1 and 3rd best preformance is hrgovic.... all pretty heavy, all very old. . they are not your classic "prime years" but i do think somehow its been his prime.

If i were zhang even though parker is a wildly different opponent, If i felt good at approx 290 last fight, i wouldent look to change much weight wise this fight.

As i said im backing parker to wear him down and stop him whether zhang is 250 or 300 lb. if zhangs going to win he will need to land somthing big early, and its hardly unlikely.

Zheng has a shed load of power and the technical ability to land it on target.

290 pounds suggest to me his camp think he can get the job done early.

He did against Joyce but Joe, talented and likeable guy that he is, blocks shots with his head. I'm sure since he was a kid Joe has been told that is not the way to parry a punch but...

That said, I'm going for Parker sometime in the middle third of the fight. But it's a tough one to call.

Who said boxing's shit these days?

[Giancarlo]

zhang has put on 1% additional body weight since his carrer best performance... and people are shocked/concerned/reading into it...

Additional when zhang came in light he nearly died of tirednes vs forrest.

I expect parker to where zang down and stop him late. but if i was a zhang fan i wouldent be too concerned at his extra 3 lbs from the version of zhang that sparked out joyce...

His weight for the Forrest fight was around his average prior to that.
I'm looking back through his fights, in his prime (early to mid 30's) he was 255-265.
Now as he gets older, he gets gradually heavier until this fight he is at 291 @ 40 years old.
Might be the perfect plan, might not. Seems counterintuitive.

I meant to ask you a while ago mate, you are in NZ yes?

I'm living here now. I grew up in the Wellington area but spent a long time overseas and only came back fairly recently. I'm in Pukekohe.

I assume the fight card is on PPV here somewhere? I usually avoid the result and download it and watch within 12 hours of it happening. It's same as watching live and it's free.

But if it is on the afternoon here, I might venture out of my lair an watch it.

[KiwiRider]

zhang has put on 1% additional body weight since his carrer best performance... and people are shocked/concerned/reading into it...

Additional when zhang came in light he nearly died of tirednes vs forrest.

I expect parker to where zang down and stop him late. but if i was a zhang fan i wouldent be too concerned at his extra 3 lbs from the version of zhang that sparked out joyce...

His weight for the Forrest fight was around his average prior to that.
I'm looking back through his fights, in his prime (early to mid 30's) he was 255-265.
Now as he gets older, he gets gradually heavier until this fight he is at 291 @ 40 years old.
Might be the perfect plan, might not. Seems counterintuitive.

I meant to ask you a while ago mate, you are in NZ yes?

I'm living here now. I grew up in the Wellington area but spent a long time overseas and only came back fairly recently. I'm in Pukekohe.

I assume the fight card is on PPV here somewhere? I usually avoid the result and download it and watch within 12 hours of it happening. It's same as watching live and it's free.

But if it is on the afternoon here, I might venture out of my lair an watch it.

Crikey, I'm 55kms south on 22

And I haven't seen the fight listed Sky or regular TV where we used to get Parker fights if it wasn't on Sky BO.
And its not playing at my local either.
So I'm going to have to watch it streaming I guess. It's a good card, I'll happily pay for it.
The old firehouse in Pukekohe sometimes has fights showing, check the blackboard outside.

[Spud]

Zhang will win this …. But I like Parker and want him to win

[tonyevs]

Hrg beat Zhang with constant movement either to stay away - or more impressively, forcing Zhang to reset by taking it to him.

Joyce beat Parker by basically walking him down in his plodding face first way.

Its very easy to see the faster and heavier handed Zhang improving on Joyces tactics over Parker - its a lot harder to see the more conventional Parker replicating Hrgs tactics over Zhang.

Parker of course has a good chance, but for me its a Zhang big bang win before halfway.

[Spud]

Hrg beat Zhang with constant movement either to stay away - or more impressively, forcing Zhang to reset by taking it to him.

Joyce beat Parker by basically walking him down in his plodding face first way.

Its very easy to see the faster and heavier handed Zhang improving on Joyces tactics over Parker - its a lot harder to see the more conventional Parker replicating Hrgs tactics over Zhang.

Parker of course has a good chance, but for me its a Zhang big bang win before halfway.

I have to disagree

Hrgovic is one of my favourite fighters … but with that said i thought he was in all sorts of trouble on a number of occasions and there is no way Hrgovic won that fight.

There is no way parker is going to be allowed to
Jab and run like he did against a shot to pieces

Wilder.

I Honestly think Parker gets tagged against Zhang and if he does its good night.