Industry Picks: Zhilei Zhang vs. Joseph Parker

A FIGHT between Zhang Zhilei and Joseph Parker is nice sufficient to be it’s personal essential occasion however on Friday (March 8) it can as an alternative act as a terrific chief help bout to bill-toppers Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou.

Last 12 months Zhang emerged as one of many largest threats to these on the high having, defeated Joe Joyce impressively on two events, whereas Parker, beneath the steerage of coach Andy Lee, has rediscovered his mojo, together with his win in opposition to Deontay Wilder was certainly one of 2023’s huge surprises.

In Zhang and Parkwe we have now two high 10 contenders in good type, each with momentum behind them. It’s a tricky one to name, however what does the commerce assume? Boxing News contacted a lot of figures inside the business to get their predictions.

1. Ben Shalom: (Promoter) – Parker-Zhang is just too near name. Slightly favour Parker. Marginal.
2. Callum Johnson: (Cruiserweight) – I fancy Zhang to win. I believe Zhang is a harmful man for anybody particularly over six rounds. I believe he would possibly simply be an excessive amount of for Parker.
3. Charlie Edwards: (Bantamweight) – I consider this shall be very cagey to start out off with. But off the again of the Wilder combat I believe we might see an upset once more with Parker taking a factors win shifting out and in together with his footwork and timing.
4. Billy Nelson: (Trainer) – Zhang to be too huge, sturdy and awkward for Joe and to win by stoppage.
5. Caoimhin Agyarko: (Super-welterweight) – I believe Parker is up in opposition to it. Both are coming off good wins however I believe Zhang wins by late stoppage.
6. Arnie Farnell: (Trainer) – I believe Zhang will cease Parker. Zhang is an ungainly southpaw who can bang and is a tough combat for anybody. The straight left down the center or left uppercut to the physique does Parker, I believe.
7. Archie Sharp: (Super-featherweight) – Zhang-Parker is a superb matchup. I believe Parker’s gonna do it, however I believe it’ll go the space and he’ll win on factors.
8. Aston Brown: (Middleweight) – Edging in the direction of a Zhang stoppage within the second half of the combat.
9. Solomon Dacres: (Heavyweight) – Parker to win on factors.
10. Mark Neilson: (Promoter) – Zhang is presumably Parker’s worst nightmare with benefits in each space. This might be an extended night time for Parker, and I see a late stoppage victory for Zhang if he can keep the tempo.
11. Izzy Asif: (Promoter) – Parker to win on factors.
12. Emma Dolan: (Super-flyweight) – I consider Parker will win and out-box Zhang. It shall be a tough combat, however I consider the combat Parker had with Joyce would have taught him quite a bit and he’ll field and transfer his method to victory.
13. Conor Quinn: (Flyweight) – I must go for a Zhang win. I believe Parker is a superb fighter and what a efficiency he gave in opposition to Wilder, however I believe Zhang is just too huge and too sturdy.
14. Junaid Bostan: (Super-welterweight) – Zhang to win.
15. Jack Flatley: (Super-welterweight) –  I’d favour Parker to win with a bit extra expertise and being on an excellent run of type.
16. Callum Simpson: (Super-middleweight) – Zhang by KO.
17. Jamie Conlan: (Promoter) – Zhang and Parker are each driving excessive on momentum after their earlier wins. Zhang shall be a tough man to out-box, I see Zhang profitable on factors.
18. Karris Artingstall: (Featherweight) – As lengthy as Parker stays switched on doesn’t get clipped with a heavy shot, I believe Parker will win on factors.
19. Iain Wilson: (Promoter) – Zhang by stoppage.
20. Jay Harris: (Flyweight) – I’m going to go for Parker to win on factors. I believe he’ll out-box him and I believe the momentum is with him after the win over Wilder.
21. Chris Sanigar: (Promoter) – Joseph Parker to win on factors though I believe Zhang is the dangerman of the division. Joseph should not stand sq. on and commerce, he have to be cell and frustrate Zhang.
22. Mark Dunlop: (Promoter) – I consider that Joseph Parker will out-box and outwork Zhang and win a transparent factors determination. He will merely be too busy.
23. Jon Pegg: (Trainer) – Parker to win on factors. Experience and pace to make the distinction.
24. Kal Yafai: (Former super-flyweight) –  I can’t write Joe off in opposition to anybody however simply assume Zhang’s dimension and southpaw model could be all improper for him so I’ve acquired to go together with Zhang.
25. Linus Udofia: (Middleweight) – Zhang to win by majority determination.
26. Mark Jeffers: (Super-middleweight) – Zhang by KO.
27. Gamal Yafai: (Former super-bantamweight) –  Zhang on factors.
28. Jack Bateson: (Featherweight) – I believe Zhang will show too sturdy and if he lands he might even damage and cease Parker.
29. Kaisy Khademi: (Super-flyweight) –  I acquired Zhang profitable by late stoppage.
30. Harry Scarff: (Welterweight) – Hard to go together with Parker on this one. Zhang was robbed in opposition to Hrgovic after which there’s the comparability with the Joyce fights. Parker’s improved however the Wilder he fought was a shadow of what he was. I decide Zhang.
31. Kevin Maree: (Manager) – Zhang might be the most effective heavyweight on the market for the time being. A well-schooled, enormous heavyweight southpaw will take some beating.
32. Mason Cartwright: (Super-welterweight) – Zhang to beat Parker on a detailed factors determination.
33. Gary Logan: (Trainer) – Parker, coached by Andy Lee, is a distinct cat now. I believe his motion causes Zhang numerous issues. I’m going for the Parker-Andy Lee ‘album’ to have one other ‘hit record’ on factors.
34. Liam Dillon: (Super-featherweight) – Parker could be very skilled, and we noticed in opposition to Wilder his motion has improved massively. But I believe Zhang is gonna win a detailed factors determination. He hits laborious and has acquired nice timing and can maintain Parker on the again foot.
35. Sam Noakes: (Lightweight) – Zhang beats Parker.
36. Robbie Davies Jr: (Super-lightweight) – I’m going for Parker on factors, but when he holds his toes an excessive amount of, we might see a Zhang stoppage win.
37. Kevin Mitchell: (Former light-weight) – Zhang. He’s an excellent heavyweight and he’s an enormous menace to the division. I believe he’ll knock Parker out in seven rounds.
38. Troy Williamson: (Super-welterweight) – Parker to win on factors.
39. Joe Hughes: (Former super-lightweight) – I believe Parker will win on factors. Zhang shall be harmful for the primary half, however I anticipate him to tire because the combat goes and Parker to take over.
40. Ekow Essuman: (Welterweight) – Zhang shall be searching for the massive bang within the early rounds. And Parker shall be seeking to drag issues into the later rounds as a result of Zhang tends to gasoline somewhat. I reckon Parker will win.
41. Tony Sims: (Trainer) – Parker has quick fingers and an excellent boxing mind. Zhang additionally has an excellent boxing mind and large energy. This combat might go both method however I’m going for Zhang by late stoppage.
42. Eddie Lam: (Trainer) – I believe Zhang’s dimension and southpaw stance might give him the sting over Parker.
43. Nina Hughes: (Bantamweight) – Zhang v Parker is a really shut name, however I believe Zhang’s dimension and energy will be the deciding issue.
44. Matthew Hatton: (Trainer) – Zhang by KO.
45. Shakan Pitters: (Light-heavyweight) – Zhang on factors.
46. Sean Noakes: (Welterweight) –  Zhang wins between rounds six and 9.
47. Duke McKenzie: (Pundit) – Parker uncovered Wilder for the crude puncher he’s and dominated him. But Parker has been overwhelmed 3 times prior to now and I anticipate him to be overwhelmed once more. Zhang, who himself is coming off two nice wins in opposition to Joe Joyce, has greater than sufficient to safe one other nice win inside the space.
48. Wayne Alexander: (Former super-welterweight) – Parker’s coming off that upset victory in opposition to Wilder, however he’s been overwhelmed earlier than and down earlier than. Zhang is contemporary and I believe he’s hungrier and he’s the larger and stronger man. I consider his additional energy and energy and starvation will get him by way of on a large factors determination.
49. Chris Bourke: (Bantamweight) – I assume Zhang might catch Parker coming in and cease him center to late rounds of the combat.
50. Nick Campbell: (Heavyweight) – I believe Zhang is a handful for anybody, however I consider Parker can have the sting coming into the later rounds. Having Andy Lee in his nook provides him an actual edge the longer the combat goes.
51. Denzel Bentley: (Middleweight) –  I’m choosing Zhang by stoppage.
52. Steve Goodwin: (Promoter) – Zhang to beat Parker by stoppage. Parker doesn’t do effectively in opposition to greater fighters (Whyte, Joyce, and so forth). Wilder was completed when he boxed him.
53. Bradley Rea: (Super-middleweight) –  Zhang on factors.
54. Hannah Rankin: (Super-welterweight) – I’m going with Parker. It’s a tricky combat however he’s coming off some nice performances and I really feel with Andy Lee in his nook he’ll have the correct gameplan to get the win in opposition to Zhang.
55. Samuel Antwi: (Super-welterweight) – Zhang to win by KO.
56. Nathan Heaney: (Middleweight) – Zhang to win.
57. Jason Cunningham: (Super-bantamweight) – Zhang by KO.
58. Anthony Yarde: (Light-heavyweight) – Zhang by KO.
59. Chris Jenkins: (Welterweight) – Zhang is the favorite however after Parker’s final efficiency I believe he and Andy Lee can have a gameplan to nick a factors win.
60. Dave Coldwell: (Trainer) – I believe this model of Parker beneath Andy Lee is an excellent fighter and I believe if he’s good for the primary four-five rounds and picks away then I believe he beats Zhang. Parker to win on factors.
61. Maisey Rose Courtney: (Super-flyweight) – Zhang knocked out Joe Joyce, however I used to be fairly shocked by how Parker made Wilder look very common. If Parker brings the identical boxing mind he did for Wilder I consider he’ll get the win however the way in which Zhang containers is unbelievable and he’s underrated so I’m sitting on the fence for this one.
62. Tori-Ellis Willetts: (Flyweight) – Zhang factors or stoppage.
63. Jason Moloney: (Bantamweight) – This is a superb combat, and it will likely be fascinating to see the way it unfolds. I simply really feel that Zhang is a tough man to take care of. A giant man and a tough model to deal with. I’m tipping Zhang in a detailed determination.
64. Liam Davies: (Super-bantamweight) – I see Parker beating Zhang on factors. He is on an excellent run and located his toes once more beneath Andy Lee.
65. Cyrus Pattinson: (Welterweight) – Zhang to win by KO.

Result: Zhang 42 votes, Parker 22 votes, one undecided vote.

And for much more business predictions collected by BN click on the video under.