Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou:
Joshua by KO in the 2nd round.
Zhilei Zhang vs. Joseph Parker:
Parker by majority decision.
Rey Vargas vs. Nick Ball:
Split decision draw.
Israil Madrimov vs. Magomed Kurbanov:
Madrimov by TKO in the 5th round.
Mark Chamberlain vs. Gavin Gwynne:
Chamberlain by TKO in the 4th round.
Justis Huni vs. Kevin Lerena:
Huni by unanimous decision.
Jack McGann vs. Louis Greene:
Greene by TKO in the 1st round.
Roman Fury vs. Martin Svarc:
Fury by points.
Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Christian Lopez Flores:
Almaayouf by points.
Andrii Novytskyi vs. Juan Torres:
Novytskyi by KO in the 3rd round.
Joseph Parker is set to face Zhilei Zhang in a highly anticipated heavyweight clash on March 8, serving as the co-feature to the Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This announcement, made by Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, sets the stage for a battle between two of ESPN’s top 10 rated heavyweights, with Parker at No. 4 and Zhang at No. 5.
Parker, hailing from New Zealand, is entering the ring on the back of a significant victory, having dominated Deontay Wilder in a major upset in Riyadh. A former heavyweight titleholder, Parker claimed the vacant WBO belt in 2016 and has since remained a prominent figure in the division, despite some setbacks including decision losses to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte in 2018.
Watch Parker vs. Wilder highlights:
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On the other side, Zhilei Zhang from China, stands as the world’s largest heavyweight contender at 6-foot-6 and over 287 pounds. Zhang, a powerful southpaw, has made waves with back-to-back stoppage wins over Joe Joyce last year, marking a significant breakthrough in his career. His only defeat, a controversial decision against Filip Hrgovic in 2022, saw Zhang flooring his opponent, highlighting his formidable punching power.
Watch Zhang vs. Joyce highlights:
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Zhang expressed his anticipation for the bout, emphasizing the uniqueness of the event in Saudi Arabia and his eagerness to contribute to what he expects to be an unforgettable night of boxing. With a focused preparation and a tailored game plan for Parker, Zhang is not just aiming for a win but a statement victory through knockout.
As the boxing community gears up for this heavyweight clash, Zhang's confidence and Parker's recent track record promise a thrilling encounter that could very well steal the spotlight on a night already packed with anticipation for the Joshua-Ngannou crossover clash.
Fight card:
▪️Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou, 10 rounds, heavyweight
▪️Zhilei Zhang vs. Joseph Parker, 12 rounds, for Zhang’s interim WBO heavyweight title
▪️Rey Vargas vs. Nick Ball, 12 rounds, for Vargas’ WBC featherweight title
▪️Israil Madrimov vs. Magomed Kurbanov, 12 rounds, for vacant WBA super welterweight title
▪️Mark Chamberlain vs. Gavin Gwynne, 10 rounds, for vacant WBA international lightweight title
▪️Justis Huni vs. Kevin Lerena, 10 rounds, heavyweight
Prelims (Starts at 10 am ET):
▪️Jack McGann vs. Louis Greene, 10 rounds, super welterweight
▪️Roman Fury vs. Martin Svarc, 4 rounds, heavyweight
▪️Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Christian Lopez Flores, 6 rounds, super lightweight
▪️Andrii Novytskyi vs. Juan Torres, 8 rounds, heavyweight
Watch the official prelims live on YouTube:
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