Three months after defeating one of the best fighter in heavy weight boxing, Deontay Wilder, Kiwi-Samoan boxer, Joseph Parker, secured the WBO interim heavyweight title with an impressive victory over China’s Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia, overcoming two knockdowns during the intense bout. Parker’s dominance was evident as he displayed superior activity and accuracy throughout the fight, earning unanimous favor from the judges who scored the bout 113-113, 114-112, and 115-111 in his favor.
The win not only added another triumph to Parker’s record, now standing at an impressive 35-3, but it also handed Zhang only his second career defeat. The pre-fight one-way rematch clause ensures a potential rematch between the two fighters before Parker can face another opponent.
The opening round saw both Parker and Zhang cautiously feeling each other out, with minimal punches thrown. Zhang increased his activity in the second round, landing powerful body shots on Parker, who struggled to land significant blows in the initial minutes. The turning point came in the third round when Zhang’s straight jab dropped Parker to the canvas, setting the stage for a challenging recovery. Saved by the bell, Parker faced a determined Zhang as the fight progressed into the fourth round.
Momentum shifted in the fourth when Parker showcased his power, landing a combination that caught Zhang off guard and knocking him off balance with a brutal right hook. Rounds five and six saw a more even exchange, but Parker’s superior punch accuracy started swinging the fight in his favor by the halfway mark.
Zhang’s left hand threat resurfaced in the seventh, yet he failed to trouble Parker as he did in the third. The eighth round saw Parker landing a big right hook, but Zhang retaliated, dropping Parker for the second time with an effortless right hook. Despite the knockdowns, Parker’s resilience shone through as he outworked Zhang in the intense ninth round.
Parker maintained his superior activity in rounds 10 and 11, capitalising on Zhang’s increasing fatigue. Urged to secure a knockout, Zhang couldn’t fulfill the requirement, and Parker continued to outclass his opponent until the final bell, sealing the remarkable victory despite the challenges.
Post-fight, Parker expressed his elation, stating, “This is a great win; I just feel like we are on the up now. Zhang is a tough man; he knocked me down twice, but when I came back to the corner, Andy told me to keep my composure, keep boxing, and to follow the plan. I’m gonna go home and celebrate.”
