Last Friday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Joseph Parker showcased his toughness by overcoming two knockdowns to secure a twelve-round unanimous decision victory against WBO interim heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang. Despite being dropped twice, Parker managed to keep his composure and outbox Zhang in a closely contested battle, with the judges scoring the fight 113-113, 114-112, and 115-111 in favor of Parker. It was evident that Zhang lacked the necessary conditioning to sustain his early success, ultimately allowing Parker to capitalize on his activity and steal rounds.
Parker’s Recovery Process
Reflecting on his tough victory, Parker admitted, “I got the win onto the next. The first knockdown, he caught me with a good shot. I thought to myself, ‘Holy damn, I’m down again.'” Despite facing adversity, Parker’s resilience and conditioning enabled him to recover quickly from the knockdowns and adopt a smart boxing approach. He emphasized the importance of composure in such situations, stating, “Times like that, you just have to relax and go with it and remember everything you’ve been training on and working on.”
Comparing Zhang’s Power to Wilder
When questioned about Zhang’s power compared to former opponent Deontay Wilder, Parker acknowledged Zhang’s punching prowess, noting, “His power is right up there. He landed two really good shots. The first one was a really good shot. It caught me by surprise.” In contrast, Parker highlighted Wilder’s evasive tactics in their previous encounter, where the Bronze Bomber opted to move around the ring instead of engaging in exchanges. Parker warned about Wilder’s knockout capability, stating, “If you let him punch you and you don’t move your head, you’re going to feel it very hard.”
Joseph Parker’s recent victory over Zhilei Zhang exemplified his resilience, composure, and tactical acumen in the face of adversity. Despite being knocked down twice, Parker persevered and ultimately outboxed Zhang to secure a hard-fought decision win. Moving forward, Parker’s ability to overcome challenges and adapt to varying styles sets him apart as a formidable force in the heavyweight division.