Chinese heavyweight Zhang Zhilei needs to finish Parker early, experts say, with questions raised over fighter’s stamina
- Zhang Zhilei and Joseph Parker will fight for interim WBO heavyweight title in Riyadh on March 8
- Chinese experts believe Zhang will hold psychological advantage after being Kiwi fighter when they were amateurs
Zhang Zhilei may have a psychological advantage over his next opponent, but Chinese boxing experts have said doubts remain over the heavyweight’s stamina.
The 40-year-old will fight Joseph Parker for the interim WBO heavyweight title at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on March 8 on the undercard for Anthony Joshua’s showdown with ex-UFC fighter Francis Ngannou.
Zhang has held the interim title since April last year when he beat Joe Joyce by TKO in the sixth round. He retained it by winning the rematch in September with a devastating third-round knockout.
Zhou Chao, a China sports journalist and boxing expert, said he believed Zhang could have the edge mentally after beating Parker when they were both amateurs in 2011.
“But whether Zhang can fight the winner of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is hard to say … [and] he isn’t in the position to pick and choose his opponents,” Zhou added.
Zhang’s impressive performances in the ring over the past 12 months had put him in the frame for a potential fight against former WBC champion Deontay Wilder.
But Parker, who was also unbeaten in 2023, recorded a unanimous decision victory against the hard-hitting American in December, setting the stage for the New Zealander to face Zhang.
“Parker wasn’t someone Zhang was considering, but his victory over Wilder was truly amazing, giving people a new understanding of his strength, just like Zhang’s victories over Joyce,” Zhou said.
Zhou added that Zhang’s “destructive left-hand power” would play a crucial role in the fight, but admitted there were questions surrounding the Chinese fighter’s stamina.
“Zhang Zhilei’s loss to Hrgovic [in 2022] and his comeback fight against Scott Alexander made people say he was not physically fit enough to go a full 12 rounds,” Zhou said.
Zhang has only gone 12 rounds once in his professional career, when he lost by unanimous decision to Hrgovic. His fight against Alexander was over in the first round, with the Chinese heavyweight dropping his opponent with a vicious left.
CCTV boxing commentator and veteran sports journalist, Du Wenjie said that Parker would prove to be Zhang’s toughest opponent yet.
“I think this is Zhang’s biggest test to date, first Parker is a former world champion and he’s still young and coming into this fight off the back of four great results,” Du said.
Parker lost to Joyce in September 2022, before bouncing back with victories over Jack Massey, Faiga Opelu, Simon Kean and Wilder.
“For Zhang, I don’t think he will be worried about the age difference because he is so confident right now,” Du said. “But we saw against Wilder that Parker has rhythm, good footwork and is calculated in his attacks.”
The WBO heavyweight title is currently held by Usyk, who faces Fury in a unification match in Saudi Arabia on February 17.
The bout reportedly has a two-way rematch clause, meaning the pair could spend 2024 fighting each other before they face other title contenders.
Zhou said the IBF title, currently held by Usyk, could be vacated if the rematch happens before the Ukrainian fights the mandatory challenger, throwing another spanner in the works.
“If Fury wins, I think he would try and make the fight against Anthony Joshua happen,” Zhou said. “There is a bigger market for that fight [than there would be for one with Zhang] and it could be to unify all four belts.”
