By: Sean Crose
The well-liked 26-1-1 heavyweight Zhilei Zhang squared off in opposition to former world titlist Joseph Parker, 34-3 in Saudi Arabia Friday evening. The scheduled twelve spherical affair was the co-main of the a lot anticipated Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou throwdown. Zhang probed along with his southpaw jab within the first. Parker, then again, performed it quite secure within the opening chapter of the struggle. Parker landed a tough physique shot within the second whereas Zhang appeared for a gap. Parker was in a position to land once more – this time with a left – within the closing minute of the spherical.
In the third, Zhang discovered his mark, as he dropped Parker with a robust straight left. Parker acquired up straight away, however the level was clear…Zhang may get to his man. Indeed, he damage Parker once more simply earlier than the bell rang to finish the spherical. Parker, to his credit score, hung in there within the fourth and was even in a position to land effectively himself. The fifth was quite attention-grabbing, with every man tossing some heavy leather-based. The sixth was considerably gradual paced, however Parker confirmed he was in a position to land on his man with regularity. In the seventh, it appeared as if Zhang might need been getting gassed.
Parker landed exhausting on Zhang early on within the eighth, however Zhang took the shot effectively. Sure sufficient, later within the spherical, Zhang put Parker again on the mat. Parker acquired up once more, although, and was as soon as once more in a position to survive the spherical. Sure sufficient, the New Zealander ended the spherical firing exhausting. Zhang seemed to be surprisingly affected person within the ninth, as he had lately dropped and damage his opponent within the earlier spherical. Indeed, he might effectively have been out of fuel. Parker remained the extra lively of the 2 fighters within the tenth.
Simply put, Parker outboxed his man within the eleventh. And, positive sufficient, Zhang didn’t do a lot within the twelfth. Parker in the meantime remained crisp and energetic. The resolution ended up going Parker’s means through resolution.
