One of the most intriguing matchups on “Knockout Chaos,” which is headlined by Anthony Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) vs Francis Ngannou (0-1), is the co-main for the interim WBO heavyweight title. The champion Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang (26-1-1, 21 KOs) will defend his interim title against former WBO champion Joseph Parker (34-3, 23 KOs).
This matchup has a lot riding on it, as the winner will likely get either Joshua or one of the other big names in the division later in the year. All of the momentum is on the side of Zhang, whose 2023 consisted of brutally stopping Joe Joyce twice, which led to this fight with Parker. Is this the moment the 40-year-old Zhang goes to another level and shows the world he is ready for a mega fight?
‘Hey, Joe…I’m Big Bang…I bang everything…I will bang you’
Zhang recently said those words on Instagram when he arrived with his team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Although that can be taken in the direction of some humor, we all know what he means when he says that. Zhang has been on a solid run, but it seems like the much-debated loss to Filip Hrgovic in August 2022 ignited something in the heavyweight that may not have been there before. It was his first loss, and it came from a decision to an opponent who was the “house fighter.” Leading up to that fight, Zhang was knocking them down like pinballs, but that loss to Hrgovic may have been the one to let him know that there were still levels he could go to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming a heavyweight champion.
To achieve that, you must ensure that you surround yourself with the right people, which means his advisors, Terry & Tommy Lane. They are the sons of legendary boxing referee Mills Lane, who passed away in December 2022 at 85. The Lane brothers had a difficult second half of 2022 as their fighter lost to Hrgovic and then had their father pass away a few months later. Mills Lane was a Marine Corps Veteran and raised his sons just as tough, so they huddled up and came up with a plan that was “all in,” which was to accept a fight with Joe Joyce, who was undefeated and the interim champion at the time. Zhang must have fed off the Lanes’ confidence in him as he destroyed Joyce not once but twice last year.
Joseph Parker’s second run
Zhang has another tough opponent in front of him who has shared the ring with plenty of big names within the heavyweight division. Parker has faced Andy Ruiz, Joshua, Dillian Whyte, and Derek Chisora, to name a few. Most recently, Parker looked spectacular against Deontay Wider. Although Parker lost his WBO title to Joshua in 2018 and four months later to Dillian Whyte, Parker, like Zhang, did not allow a loss to defeat him. Parker would go on a run to win six in a row before losing to Joyce in September 2022. But last year, Parker went on another run consisting of four consecutive wins and ended with the Wilder fight in December.
Parker is only 32 years old and has the motor to cause Zhang problems later in the fight, where the 40-year-old could be vulnerable. Parker is susceptible to big punchers, as Joyce brutally stopped him in 2022. All of this makes for an intriguing matchup on Friday night.
‘The Year of the Dragon’
This year, the Chinese celebrate the ‘Year of the Dragon’ which, according to The Daily, means the following:
“It symbolizes power, good fortune, and strength and is associated with auspicious traits like intelligence, ambition, and charisma. Historically linked with imperial power, Chinese emperors considered themselves descendants of dragons, emphasizing the dragon’s esteemed position.”
Zhang is filled with “intelligence, ambition, and charisma,” but on Friday night, he will have to prove he is worthy of getting a shot at a world title or someone like Joshua. Can he put it together and derail Parker once again on the second run that he is on? Will Parker quiet all the loud Zhang fans who seem to follow the interim WBO champ everywhere he fights? Don’t miss this Friday’s “Knockout Chaos” fight on PPV.com.
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