BoxRec

Zhilei Zhang-Joseph Parker To Land on March 8 Joshua-Ngannou Show In Riyadh

Two heavyweights who've taken on all comers have turned to each other for their next opportunities.

Boxing Scene has learned that interim WBO heavyweight titlist Zhilei Zhang and former WBO champ Joseph Parker are set to meet March 8 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The bout is expected to be confirmed during a press conference Monday in London to otherwise formally announce the Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou main event.

Boxing News’ Declan Taylor was the first to report the development. Messages left for representatives for both camps were not immediately returned before this story was posted.

Zhang (26-1-1, 21 KOs) was among the few notable heavyweights to not appear on the ‘Day of Reckoning’ show December 23 in Riyadh, on which Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) and Parker posted separate wins. It left the 40-year-old Chinese southpaw — who lives and trains in New Jersey —eager to take on anyone from that card to carry over the positive momentum gained from his pair of knockout wins over previously unbeaten Joe Joyce.

Zhang stood toe-to-toe with the bruising Joyce in their first meeting April 15 and caused enough damage to his right eye to force a stoppage midway through round six.

The win netted the interim WBO title for Zhang, though likely a long wait before he gets a shot at the full title. Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) is the unified WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight titlists and set to face lineal/WBC champion Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) for the undisputed crown on February 17 in Riyadh. A rematch clause exists in the agreement, which means all mandatories — Zhang, IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) and reinstated WBA ‘Regular’ titlist Mahmoud Charr — will all have to either wait in line or for the titles to be relinquished.

Zhang repeated the feat over Joyce, this time in far more emphatic fashion with a one-sided, third-round knockout last September 23. Parker previously was knocked out by Joyce in September 2022.

The ‘Day of Reckoning’ show was designed, in part, to set up a long-awaited showdown between Joshua and former long-reigning WBC titlist Deontay Wilder. New Zealand’s Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) ruined plans with his lopsided decision win over Alabama's Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs), to wrap up a four-win campaign for the former titleholder.

To his credit, Parker did not want to rest on his laurels. He called for showdowns with any of the division's top players, including Zhang and Hrgovic. It was Zhang who answered the call for a fight that will leave the winner in prime position to land a massive fight in the suddenly red-hot heavyweight division.

Surely you'd only be looking at a Zhang KO or a Parker Decision (or late KO of a gassed Zhang). Zhang has the handspeed, accuracy, power and variety of punches whereas Parker has the footwork, speed, stamina and workrate. Both the can be vulnerable defensively but appear to have solid chins.

Parker's resume win or lose is becoming immense. Intriguing fight this one, a true 50-50. I think Parker should outwork him though

Parker is fearless and I give him all the credit in the world. I think he gets Zhanged though with Chinese power.

Big fan of Zhang

This is about the worst fight for him, bigger risk, lower reward, I think it will be a less exciting fight too.

Parker should carefully box his way to a decision.

Zhang v Wilder, AJ, Francis, Dubois would all be a lot more fun.

If Chisora and Joyce can find Parker's chin then so can Zhang. Parker never does anything easy although it was a good performance against an inept Wilder.

Coco wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 10:07 Big fan of Zhang

This is about the worst fight for him, bigger risk, lower reward, I think it will be a less exciting fight too.

Parker should carefully box his way to a decision.

Zhang v Wilder, AJ, Francis, Dubois would all be a lot more fun.

Totally agree with all your points. I will enjoy watching Parker vs Zhang but it is a terrible fight from Zhang's point of view unless he is getting paid handsomely, of course.

Hrg gave the blue print how to fight and beat Zhang - Joyce gave the blueprint on how not to fight Zhang.

I`d favour Parker in this.

Parker to outwork Zhang.

Joyce was all wrong for Parker
Zhang was all wrong for Joyce

One of those 3 way opponents thingys where A beating B, B beating C, doesn't mean A beats C as well.

Parker really earned his place on the card.

Anyone know what likely purses will be?

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 16:51 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.

Parker on points.

50-50 type fight.

I kinda like Parker to stop Zhang. Needs to invest to the body a lot, Zhang got a sturdy head but a questionable gas tank. Fast jabs to the body from long and like left hook rips to the body from near.

Zhang nearly dies from tiredness in a 10 rounder vs rice or Forrest (I mix them up)… Parker is levels above that so if he can not get hurt verrrry big if) and it’s a 12 rounder I think Zhang is in trouble…

gregregegg wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 22:05 50-50 type fight.

I kinda like Parker to stop Zhang. Needs to invest to the body a lot, Zhang got a sturdy head but a questionable gas tank. Fast jabs to the body from long and like left hook rips to the body from near.

Zhang nearly dies from tiredness in a 10 rounder vs rice or Forrest (I mix them up)… Parker is levels above that so if he can not get hurt verrrry big if) and it’s a 12 rounder I think Zhang is in trouble…

Agree , Parker should be too fast for Zang , and smart , a big lumbering slow non thinker , such has Jocye is tailor made for Zhang , Parker is a bit smarter and faster , but its heavyweights and only one punch which we know Zang is capable off throwing , thats what makes it interesting , hope they both get a HUGE PAYDAY

ppl talk up zhang as some nearly unstoppable monster, aj ducking cuz zhang would destroy him etc, then fight is made and the consenus is that parker beats him and he's got this crap gas tank and the blue print has been set already

i mean i agree, but ppl sure do swing fast. fights becoming reality seem to do that

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 23:36 ppl talk up zhang as some nearly unstoppable monster, aj ducking cuz zhang would destroy him etc, then fight is made and the consenus is that parker beats him and he's got this crap gas tank and the blue print has been set already

i mean i agree, but ppl sure do swing fast. fights becoming reality seem to do that

I had to check that Doofy hadn`t written that assessment ..

Zhang will be a dangerous opponent for any top heavyweight - just because half of us here lean towards Parker doesn`t change that.
Any heavyweight who stands in front of Zhang in those early rounds is in serious danger. But as Hrg showed, keep Zhang from setting his feet and the danger can be more safely managed ... Parker appears a boxer who can do that IMO.

For the record I thought Zhang showed a much better gas tank in the Hrg fight than lots like to remember. He is a big unit so as the fight goes on needs to conserve the energy he is putting out. But in the Hrg fight he was still able to have his little flurries late on.

of course zhang is dangerous and i never said otherwise, but jeeeeeeez reading about him for the last months you'd expect some monster who is a lot mightier than the vibes are now that he's actually got a fight.

im not complaining, the perspective ppl have now is more in line with the reality of a guy who is very dangerous early but pretty limited after that

incidentally i go way back with zhang, saw him first time in the 2007 worlds where he flattened an aussie on his way to bronze, in his 2008 olympic final, when aj dropped him in the london games, his pro debut, the bizarre fight with jerry forrest, and all fights since then

been a long time for him to get to this stage.....congrats big bang

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑16 Jan 2024, 03:25 of course zhang is dangerous and i never said otherwise, but jeeeeeeez reading about him for the last months you'd expect some monster who is a lot mightier than the vibes are now that he's actually got a fight.

im not complaining, the perspective ppl have now is more in line with the reality of a guy who is very dangerous early but pretty limited after that

Zhang has been running high…. But since December 23 so is Parker. Think that kinda balances out and results in a pretty 50-50 view on the forum.

or like a 10-2 for people actually posting!

maybe joe will end up aj's best win, great rebound from the JJ drubbing

This was the one I was hoping for.
A genuine 50/50 fight. Pure quality
The winner of this surely sets up a major fight against Joshua ?
Obviously the biggest fight would be Joshua v Zhang especially if Zhang knocks Parker out, which I'm edging towards, but even an impressive Parker win would make the Joshua rematch huge

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

Oiky wrote: ↑16 Jan 2024, 05:50 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

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