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SCMP Sport

China’s Zhang Zhilei will fight Joseph Parker for the interim WBO heavyweight title in Saudi Arabia in March.
The pair will compete on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s showdown with ex-UFC fighter Francis Ngannou at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on March 8.
Zhang had previously been linked with a fight against Deontay Wilder, but Parker’s unanimous decision win over the American in December put the New Zealander in contention.
The interim title holder, Zhang is coming off back-to-back stoppage wins over Joe Joyce, and has a 26-1-1 record since turning professional in 2014.
Parker, meanwhile, is a former WBO heavyweight champion, who had four fights last year, winning all of them.

The main event though pits Joshua against Ngannou, who only made his boxing debut in October, when he lost on a split decision to WBC world champion Tyson Fury in a non-title bout.
Ngannou almost delivered an upset when he dropped Fury to the canvas with a left hook in that fight, and he has questioned Joshua’s ability to take a punch.
“I heard that he doesn’t have a chin,” Ngannou said of the two-time world champion. “I don’t know if it’s true or not. We’re going to find out. I hope I have the opportunity to test that out, that’s my wish.”
The fight takes place three weeks after Fury takes on Ukraine’s WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO champion Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title in Riyadh.
Joshua lost his belts to Uysk in 2021, and was also beaten in a rematch.
Co-promoter Frank Warren suggested the winners of the February and March fights could go on to meet later in the year.
“For the winner, the big fight’s happening on February 17, with Tyson and Usyk,” he said. “The winner of that, would we like to see them with the winner of this fight? Everybody in boxing would love to see that.”


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How Singaporean pro boxer uses skills from the ring to dominate life’s other fights

Tyson Fury announces return from retirement, ready to ‘punch men in the face, get paid for it’

Driver in fatal Anthony Joshua car crash charged with dangerous driving by Nigerian police

Boxing

China’s Zhang to fight Parker for interim WBO heavyweight title on undercard of Joshua clash with Ngannou in Riyadh

Zhang Zhilei will put his interim WBO heavyweight title on the line against Joseph Parker. Photo: Reuters

Joseph Parker throws a punch at Deontay Wilder during their fight at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Christmas Eve, 2023. Photo: AP

Anthony Joshua to fight ex-UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou in Saudi Arabia in boxing bout

Anthony Joshua is expected to fight Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia in March. Photo: AFP

Boxing influencer Jake Paul and UFC star Francis Ngannou pack a punch as heavyweight logjam finally set to break

Jake Paul celebrates after knocking out Andre August in the first round of their on December 15 in Orlando, Florida. Photo: Getty Images

Francis Ngannou stunned boxing when he knocked down Tyson Fury during their heavyweight fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in October. Photo: Getty Images

Sport

Title-holder Zhang Zhilei and Joseph Parker will fight at Kingdom Arena on March 8
Parker jumped into contention for belt after unanimous decision win over Deontay Wilder


Title-holder Zhang Zhilei and Joseph Parker will fight at Kingdom Arena on March 8 on undercard of Anthony Joshua clash with Francis Ngannou.


China’s Zhang to fight Parker for interim WBO heavyweight title on undercard of Joshua clash with Ngannou in Riyadh

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Title-holder Zhang Zhilei and Joseph Parker will fight at Kingdom Arena on March 8 Parker jumped into contention for belt after unanimous decision win over Deontay Wilder

Title-holder Zhang Zhilei and Joseph Parker will fight at Kingdom Arena on March 8

Parker jumped into contention for belt after unanimous decision win over Deontay Wilder