Joseph Parker

[diehard]

Now we're getting somewhere. LL will be real with him, instead of some bullshit:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/combat-sports/107481165/kiwi-heavyweight-joseph-parker-seeks-advice-from-former-champ-lennox-lewis

[diehard]

This Chinese guy travels, is ranked in the top 10, and travels.  Parker vs Zhang?  Zhang is ranked WBO #6.

ZHANG ZHILEI SCORES KNOCKOUT OVER DON HAYNESWORTH TO RETAIN WBO ORIENTAL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 – Zhang Zhilei, ranked No. 6 in the world by the WBO, retained the WBO
Oriental Heavyweight Title on tonight behind a sensational third-round knockout over Donald Haynesworth (15-2, 13 KOs) in Changsha, China. Zhilei improves to 20-0, scoring his 16th knockout, as he now looks to potentially fight on November 24 in Monaco against a world-class contender on DAZN.

[diehard]

Zhang Zhilei, Junior Younan Deliver Knockouts in Their Homecoming Victories
Roc Nation Sports - 01/10/2018 0 Comments

Roc Nation heavyweight boxer Zhang Zhilei and super middleweight boxer Junior Younan made triumphant returns to China and Brooklyn, respectively, where they each delivered sensational knockouts in front of their hometown fans.

For Zhilei (20-0, 16 KOs), he dazzled in his appearance in Changsha, China on Friday, when he recorded a third-round knockout over Donald Haynesworth (15-3-1, 13 KOs) to retain his WBO Oriental Heavyweight title. The showing marked Zhilei’s first fight in China since January 21, 2017, when he defeated Peter Graham to claim his championship belt. Zhang is now ranked No. 6 in the WBO World Heavyweight ratings and firmly establishing himself into world title contention.

Meanwhile, Younan (14-0, 10 KOs) wasted little time with his veteran opponent Evert Bravo (24-9-1, 18 KOs), dispatching him via first-round knockout at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn. It was quite a performance for Younan, who hadn’t fought in Brooklyn – and in front of his hometown friends and family – since his bout against Mike Sawyer the Barclays Center on June 6, 2015.

“I’m proud of Zhilei and Junior’s performances and glad they had an opportunity to enjoy these victories in their home areas,” Roc Nation Sports promoter Dino Duva said. “Overall, this was a fantastic weekend for Roc Nation Boxing and we look forward to sharing details for Junior and Zhilei’s next fights in the near future.”

Given Zhilei’s statement victory, Roc Nation Sports is working to negotiate an opportunity for the 35-year-old to fight a world class heavyweight contender for his next bout. Duva is tentatively looking at scheduling that fight for November 24 in Monaco.

Roc Nation Boxers Zhang Zhilei And Junior Younan To Make Triumphant Homecomings In The Ring
Roc Nation Sports today announced that Zhang Zhilei and Junior Younan will make their triumphant homecomings in the ring this weekend. Zhang Zhilei (19-0, 15 KOs) will return home to China on Friday, Sept. 28 to defend his WBO Oriental Heavyweight Title in a 10-round bout against Don Haynesworth (15-2, 13 KOs) in Changsha. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Sept. 29, super middleweight Junior Younan (13-0-1, 9 KOs) will take on Evert Bravo (24-8-1, 18 KOs) in an eight-round bout in his hometown of Brooklyn, N.Y. at the Kings Theatre.

Zhang Zhilei, ranked No. 6 in the world by the WBO, won the WBO Oriental Heavyweight Title in January 2017 via a knockout over Australian Peter Graham. His last fight on July 20, ended in a first-round KO over Eugen Buchmueller of Germany at the WinnaVegas Casino Resort in Sloan, Iowa. If Zhang wins his upcoming bout on Sept. 28 and retains the WBO Oriental Heavyweight Title, he will potentially fight on November 24 in Monaco against a world class contender on DAZN. If he is victorious, he would then level himself up to boxing greats in hopes of competing for a World Heavyweight Title in 2019.

“We believe that Zhilei is ready to make his move against the top heavyweights in the world and fight for the World Heavyweight Championship sometime in 2019,” said Roc Nation Sports promoter Dino Duva. “He has worked very hard to get there, and I have complete confidence that he can make history as the first Chinese World Heavyweight Champion.”

[Kiwi]

Do you have some inside scoop about Zhilei, Die?

[diehard]

(10-03-2018, 02:03 PM)Kiwi Wrote: Do you have some inside scoop about Zhilei, Die?

No, but I'll ask Stu about it. Mr Higgins DID say he was thinking about going to China, as did Arum, at one time or another. I know Chauncy went there several years ago and made some good coin.

On another note, Joe is ranked 4th and 6th by Ring Magazine and some other one. So alphabets aside, good news for him.

[diehard]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/combat-sports/107581502/joseph-parker-to-make-ring-return-in-christchurch-in-december

[diehard]

Former world champion heavyweight Joseph Parker's next fight will be in Christchurch on December 15.

His opponent is yet to be confirmed but the Herald understands it definitely won't be Australian Lucas Browne, who recently stopped the New Zealand-based American Julius Long on the Gold Coast. There is no prospect of Parker and Browne fighting any time soon or possibly at all.

It won't be fellow Kiwi heavyweight Junior Fa, either, although the Aucklander, undefeated over 15 professional fights, will feature in the main undercard bout against an unconfirmed opponent.

Indeed, the name of Parker's opponent at the Horncastle Arena probably won't be recognisable to even boxing aficionados in this country as the New Zealand-Samoan starts his way back to the top after consecutive losses to Brits Anthony Joshua in Cardiff and Dillian Whyte in London.

The bout is designed to give Parker some rounds before he launches his comeback proper next year. A good win — and he will be disappointed to not get a stoppage — could put him within reach of a rematch with Whyte or perhaps a fight against fellow Englishman Dereck Chisora.

"Whoever they put in front of me I need to get the job done — and get it done well," said Parker, who hasn't stopped an opponent since Alexander Dimitrenko in Auckland in October, 2016.

"Having experienced what it is like to reach the pinnacle of the sport, and then come back down again after a couple of tough defeats, I'm more motivated than ever to get back on top," he said.

The fight will be Parker's first in New Zealand in 18 months, a welcome return to home soil after three tough fights in Britain, the first of which was a majority decision victory against Hughie Fury in Manchester.

The result of the Whyte fight, a unanimous decision defeat, was especially difficult to endure because of the head clash — not ruled as such by the referee — which floored Parker in the second round.

Parker was also knocked down in the ninth round, before mounting a dramatic comeback which culminated in him knocking down Whyte in the 12th and final round.

[diehard]

From Stu:

Dino Duva is a friend & good operator .. what we need to do now is get Joe back in the winners circle - he had a massive unification against AJ and took him the distance - being the only one to do so and the Whyte fight was a close one .. back to the drawing board now - Joe is young and we still have plenty of time to get him peaking .. If the opportunity presents itself in 2019 & Zhilei looks to be a meaningful fight then for sure we'd look at it .. for the moment one fight at a time and Im confident we haven't yet seen the best of Joe .. he is still learning & developing ..

[craigyid14]

Very disappointing, fighting a no name with a blown up record. Can't help but think they're missing a trick not fighting Browne.
Crazy they think he needs a warm up fight to get in the ring with Chisora, that's a complete lack of faith in their fighter.

[shamrock]

Chisora is dangerous, a warmup fight before facing him is not beyond the pale for Jo imo