By: Sean Crose
The favored 26-1-1 heavyweight Zhilei Zhang squared off towards former world titlist Joseph Parker, 34-3 in Saudi Arabia Friday night time. The scheduled twelve spherical affair was the co-main of the a lot anticipated Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou throwdown. Zhang probed together with his southpaw jab within the first. Parker, alternatively, performed it fairly protected within the opening chapter of the combat. Parker landed a tough physique shot within the second whereas Zhang seemed for a gap. Parker was in a position to land once more – this time with a left – within the closing minute of the spherical.
Within the third, Zhang discovered his mark, as he dropped Parker with a robust straight left. Parker obtained up immediately, however the level was clear…Zhang may get to his man. Certainly, 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 fairly fascinating, with every man tossing some heavy leather-based. The sixth was considerably sluggish paced, however Parker confirmed he was in a position to land on his man with regularity. Within the seventh, it seemed as if Zhang might need been getting gassed.
Parker landed onerous on Zhang early on within the eighth, however Zhang took the shot effectively. Positive sufficient, later within the spherical, Zhang put Parker again on the mat. Parker obtained up once more, although, and was as soon as once more in a position to survive the spherical. Positive sufficient, the New Zealander ended the spherical firing onerous. Zhang gave the impression to be surprisingly affected person within the ninth, as he had not too long ago dropped and damage his opponent within the earlier spherical. Certainly, he might effectively have been out of gasoline. Parker remained the extra lively of the 2 fighters within the tenth.
Merely put, Parker outboxed his man within the eleventh. And, certain sufficient, Zhang didn’t do a lot within the twelfth. Parker in the meantime remained crisp and energetic. The choice ended up going Parker’s means by way of choice.
