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Joseph Parker on Zhilei Zhang: ‘There’s A Lot of Respect Between Us’

Originally posted on Fights Around The World
By Abraham Gonzalez | Last updated 3/5/24

As we arrive close to fight night on Friday to witness Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou, the co-main is the fight that there will be a lot of attention towards as the winner will be in an excellent position for a huge fight later this year. Interim WBO heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker have been making their media rounds to remind fans that their fight is just as important to the heavyweight division as the main event.

Parker stopped by the TNT Sports social media team to give his thoughts on Zhang as he is days away from proving he is more than ready for the challenge. “Before the fight, fighters show the other fighter respect. There is no reason why to waste energy outside of a fight getting angry or getting intense. There’s a lot of respect between us, but I know when it’s fight time, it’s going to be a lot different.”

Parker understands the task at hand, but so does his opponent Zhang. John Fury, the father of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, trains Parker. Tyson had predicted earlier in the week that Parker would win easily as long as he could outbox Zhang.

That word got back to Zhang, who had some interesting things to say in response to the Gypsy King. “That might be his (Parker’s) biggest tactic, which is to stick & move and go around the ring. If you want to beat me on the points, that’s the thing he is going to do. I have my secret weapon, and I will show you how to fight.” Zhang would later make a funny comment that he also meant to be some serious words for his opponent. “If he has his little sleeping issue, I will help him with that, but in the ring.”

This article first appeared on Fights Around The World and was syndicated with permission.

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