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.