Kiwi heavyweight, Joseph Parker, has bagged his next big fight. Mike Coppinger, ESPN’s boxing insider, has reported that Parker will be listed as the co-headliner in Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou‘s main event, to be held in Riyadh and set to take place on the 8th of March.

Right now, a press conference is underway in London to outline more details of the event. As per reports, Parker will clash off against Chinese Heavyweight Zhilei Zhang, the interim WBO heavyweight champion. While the undercard announcement may include even bigger names, at the moment apart from the headliner between AJ and the Cameroonian-French fighter, Parker vs. Zhang has increased the anticipation for the Riyadh event tenfold.

Parker is coming off a groundbreaking victory he registered against hard-hitter, Deontay Wilder on December’s Day of Reckoning card. On the other hand, only once defeated, Zhang was last seen in the ring against Joe Joyce in September last year, a fight that he won through an impressive 3rd round knockout.

There were reports that suggested a potential Parker vs. Zhang clash might be on the undercard of the AJ vs. Ngannou fight in Saudi Arabia. The rumors started gaining ground after the 32-year-old New Zealander posted a clip from his training camp to his Instagram story. In it, he can be seen at the gym, hanging out with his sparring partners. The caption on the story read, “Here we go again,” which is what added fuel to the fire.

While the fight is an exciting development for fans, it is not unexpected. Both Parker and Zhang had earlier revealed their readiness and even excitement for a fight against each other.

Joseph Parker vs. Zhilei Zhang; set in December, realized in January

In a chat with talkSPORT Boxing, Parker had directly indicated the possibility of him fighting on the AJ vs. Ngannou card. “I’d like to get out as soon as I can. March, I’d love to fight in March. I think they’ve already given me indication that there’s a possibility I could be fighting on that card [Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou]. So listen, I’m training every day, I’m working hard, I’m eating clean. I’m just enjoying rest time but I know there’s a fight coming or looming in very soon,” revealed the New Zealander.

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He had also suggested Zhang and Filip Hrogiv as potential opponents for the clash. “Every name like Zhang or Hrgovic or anyone, whatever they’ve said, we’ve said yes to,” said Parker on the prospect of his future fight. This is a fight that can push the winner on the path to claiming a title.

In a conversation with Gambling.com, Zhang, too, had confirmed his readiness to return to the ring in March. Highlighting Joseph Parker as a potential opponent, he noted, “I want to come back during March and that’s the plan but if you’re asking me who I want the next opponent to be realistically, then I say Joseph Parker but does he dare to fight me?” 

Zhang went on to add, “I’m open to everything but I am focusing on the gym and being in the ring for my return. I would like to have my next fight to be in Saudi Arabia, but everything is being worked on and is in the process. I can’t say too much about it.”

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Joseph Parker will now compete against Zhilei Zhang on the 8th of March. This is the recent fight to join the currently flaming, heavyweight division. It holds the potential to alter how the division navigates itself post the fight. There is a possibility that this fight might lead to a title fight, as Zhilei Zhang is the current interim WBO heavyweight champion. So who do you think among them would emerge victorious? Let us know in the comments section below.

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