Zach Parker continues his rehabilitation on March 16th when he takes on former WBA super middleweight champion Tyrone Zeuge (27-1-1, 15 KO’s) in Birmingham. 

After winning the British title and climbing the WBO rankings, Parker looked destined for a world title shot and in November 2022 his rise culminated in a WBO interim title fight with John Ryder. The winner would be in prime position to challenge Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez for the undisputed title at 168lbs. 

Things didn’t go to plan. The fight had barely begun before a badly broken hand forced Parker to retire after four rounds and Ryder carried the interim title straight into a fight with Mexican superstar.

Ryder may have lost a wide decision to Alvarez but his brave performance earned him another big opportunity and he takes on the unbeaten Jaime Mungia this weekend. 

Parker spent a frustrating ten months on the sidelines watching everything play out but returned last September and forced Khalid Graidia to retire after seven increasingly dominant rounds. After feeling his way into the fight, Parker visibly grew in confidence as the rounds passed and set himself up for another assault on the super middleweight division.

That campaign begins in March. Parker is very familiar with Zeuge and the 29 year old believes that the German is the ideal opponent for him to prove that he is back to his best against.

“I think I’m a lot bigger than him. We’ve sparred in the past when I used to be promoted by the Sauerlands. I’ve come on a lot as well,” Parker (23-1, 17 KO’s) told Queensberry’s YouTube channel. “It should make out for a good fight. He’s a bit small and he’s gonna be coming on to big shots I think. He likes to fight inside and he’s experienced but I think I’ve got a lot of experience behind me now as well.

“He had me over in Germany sparring. We sparred the first day and I don’t think he wanted to spar again so I just had a holiday over there.”

Parker turned professional back in 2015 and taking the long, patient road into title contention made the manner of his defeat to Ryder all the more difficult to deal with. He shouldn’t have to wait as long for another shot and provided he gets passed Zeuge he will be looking to jump right into a meaningful fight.

The much vaunted Queeensberry v Matchroom card could provide him with a high profile opponent and a route straight back into title contention. The highly rated American knockout puncher Diego Pacheco could be one option and Parker is keeping an eye on the progress of another well known British fighter. 

“Yeah, I’d have any of these. I think Billy Joe [Saunders] is coming back as well. He’s a British lad and it’d be amazing but I think he’s higher ranked than Pacheco so I’d like to take his ranking off him,” Parker said.

“I’m a star on the rise too. Don’t worry about that. I’ve got dynamite in both hands. When I land clean on someone they’re not gonna get up. With how awkward I am as well, I’ve been ducked all my career. It wouldn’t bother me. There’s a lot of boxers out there who are meant to be these next top stars but we’ll see how it is when it comes to the big guys innit?"