Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs), of New Zealand, shared his thoughts with the media today, stating that he slightly favors former WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) over former WBO interim titlist Zhang Zhilei (26-2-1, 21 KOs), though he believes Zhang has a chance to win.
Parker said, “To be honest, I’m excited about this fight, and I’m glad to be here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to witness it. Both men have power and can knock out their opponents. I believe we’ll see a different Wilder this time. I predict Wilder will defeat Zhang. Zhang looks a bit leaner; hopefully, he’s in better shape. Personally, I lean towards Wilder, as this is a do-or-die match for both. The loser might consider retirement or moving down to lower-level competition. At this level, you can’t afford to lose.”
Parker himself scored a decisive points victory over Wilder last December 23 and defeated Zhang by points in March. However, in his bout against Zhang, Parker was knocked down twice, while he dominated Wilder in their contest. Currently, the odds are at 1-2, with Zhang slightly favored.
