Parker ready to dance against Chinese big man

Joseph Parker is planning to take his dancing shoes to his Saudi Arabia showdown with Chinese giant Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang.

Nobody should be expecting the rejuvenated Kiwi heavyweight, fresh from a win over Deontay Wilder that shocked the boxing world in December, to be busting out the same dance moves from his viral lockdown videos.

However, there are two reasons Parker wants to be nimble of his toes in the ring, just after 10am this morning (NZT).

Much like the Wilder fight, Parker (34-3, reach advantage.

“I have to be switched on again in this fight, like the Wilder fight, I have to use my feet a bit more, being quick in and out,” Parker told IFL TV. “Just dancing and making him miss.”

When Zhang (26-1-1, 21 KOs) stepped on the scales at yesterday’s weigh-in, he recorded a mammoth 132.3kg. Not quite the chiselled physique of Parker, but not carrying much excess either.

“He’s a big man, a big head, a big body and a big target,” Parker said at the weighin.

Many expert opinions rate Parker, known for his hand speed, on a par if not slightly behind Zhang in that skill-set, but the accepted belief is that the Kiwi has the quicker feet – a major asset to have against a bigger stronger man.

Parker, the former WBO heavyweight champion, who clocked in at 112.3kg, hasn’t fought a southpaw since his routine win over American journeyman Jason Bergman way back in January 2016 in Samoa, an opponent a world away from the heavypunching and highly skilled Zhang.

However, Parker and his trainer Andy Lee are adamant they have left no stone unturned in their preparation. Without mentioning names, Parker praised the level of quality southpaw sparing partners Lee was able to secure.

The southpaw factor can present serious challenges, as evidenced by Zhang’s pair of 2023 victories over the previously unbeaten Joe Joyce, who failed to adjust to Zhang’s thunderous left hand coming from odd angles.

Joyce fought Zhang on the back of knocking out Parker in September 2022.

As a common and high-level opponent,

Joyce’s name has been thrown at Parker and Zhang all week, but neither Lee nor Parker see it as overly relevant.

“The fighter that was fighting Joe Joyce back then is a totally different fighter to now, mentally and physically,” Parker said. “I’ve made a few adjustments in my camp and in my style and now I feel like a lot better fighter.”

Aside from the southpaw conundrum, Lee went as far as to say the plan against Zhang was a continuation of Parker’s work that won the Wilder fight by a unanimous 12-round decision.

“It’s going to be an epic battle, because even if we have to go the trenches with him, Jo is ready for that,” Lee told IFL TV.

“He’s a big man, a big head, a big body and a big target.”

Joseph Parker on Zhilei Zhang