Joseph Parker vs Zhilei Zhang: What WBO interim heavyweight title bout means in heavyweight division picture

Joseph Parker will fight Zhilei Zhang for the WBO interim world heavyweight title in March. Photo / Photosport

Joseph Parker is living in the fire.

After dismantling the one-shot knockout threat of Deontay Wilder late last year to cement his return to the elite tier of the heavyweight division, the 32-year-old has turned his attention to another of the division’s juggernauts.

When Parker meets Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia on March 9 (NZ time), he will have a chance to claim the WBO interim heavyweight title and earn the status of the organisation’s No 1 contender.

In order to achieve that, he’ll have to get past the man known as ‘Big Bang’ - with 21 of his 26 professional wins coming by knockout, including back-to-back stoppages over Joe Joyce.

“I think Zhang could be tougher than the world title fight,” Parker’s manager David Higgins told the Herald. “He’s an awkward mix of southpaw, size, power and, on his day, he’d be as tough as anyone.

“For Joseph Parker, he’s got to have another blinder like he did against Wilder to beat Zhang.”

It was expected Parker would have some options after his win over Wilder saw him surge into the top five of the world rankings with all four of the major governing bodies, as well as being ranked No 3 in the world by respected record-keeping site BoxRec.

However, Higgins said Zhang was the only realistic proposition for the Kiwi heavyweight if he wanted to get straight back to work.

While the interim belt is, effectively, a world title, it would put Parker in a great position to challenge for the title proper once the saga to find an undisputed champion between Oleksandr Usyk (WBO, IBF, WBA) and Tyson Fury (WBC) plays out. The first fight between the two is scheduled for mid-February.

There is a two-way rematch clause for that bout, while Turki Alalshikh of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority has noted it is their hope to see the winner of that February bout meet the winner of Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou – the main event of Parker’s card.

That would see a further delay should Parker position himself as next in line with the WBO, although should the WBO belt be vacated at any point, the holder of the interim title would likely be promoted – as was the case with Australian junior middleweight Tim Tszyu last October.

“He’s in the top group anyway, but arguably winning that interim title locks you in with the WBO as the next in line to the throne – with a bit of patience,” Higgins said of what opportunities the Zhang bout presents for Parker.

“But you can get a bit too hoodoo about this sanctioning and ranking. The best way to become world champion is to keep fighting and bowling over the next guy in front of you often, then it’s hard for them not to give you the title shot.

“You’ve just got to keep busy and keep winning. That’s what Joseph has done in the last year; he’s gone from the loss against Joe Joyce and [being in] the doldrums, now he’s right back there.”

Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.