Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, 34-3 (23 KOs), coming off what he called the biggest win of his career against Deontay Wilder, said he was confident ahead of coming up against another tall task as the two made their Grand Arrivals in Saudi Arabia ahead of their appearance as the co-main event on Friday’s Knockout Chaos bill.
“Here we go again,” he said, days before his challenge of Chinese star Zhilei Zhang, two-and-a-half months on from defeating Wilder on points. “Back-to-back. I feel like staying busy is the reason there’s been so much success, the momentum, keeping in camp, staying in shape, eating good and resting well, and I think it’s very good. I love keeping busy because it keeps me in the gym, working with [trainer] Andy Lee and [nutritionist] George Lockhart, and I love it.
“I’ve only fought one southpaw in my career, but my trainer was a southpaw and we’ve brought in some great sparring in training camp. I’m looking forward to putting on the best performance I can put on. There’s other discussions and other fights being made, but my focus is on Zhang. The ultimate goal is to be heavyweight champion of the world.”
Zhang, 26-1-1 (21 KOs), who holds the WBO interim title, has a rematch clause, so if he loses to Parker they have to fight again before October.
New Jersey-based southpaw Zhang said he was motivated by the support of his fans, and doing well for his team.
Asked about Parker’s upset of Wilder, Zhang said: “I enjoyed watching that fight, I liked both fighters. Wilder fought one round in two years, he’s been inactive. Parker has been active. When you look at it, activity is the difference.”
And then, should he beat Parker, who will Zhang have his sights on? The winner of Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk? The winner of Joshua-Ngannou?
“My whole focus is Joe Parker, without this victory, nothing else is possible.”
