Joseph Parker is sparring with risky fighter Agron Smakici ahead of Zhilei Zhang showdown
Joseph Parker shared a picture on his Instagram page of himself and his two sparring partners brought into his training camp for his Saudi showdown with Zhilei Zhang on March 8.
The New Zealander faces the Chinese southpaw in Riyadh on the undercard of the Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou, live on DAZN and Sky Sports.
In preparation for the ‘Big Bang’, the 32-year-old Kiwi has brought in sparring partners Agron Smakici and Moses Itauma.
Agron Smakici suddenly rose to infamy this month after he was the cause of the biggest fight of the century being cancelled with just two weeks to go.
The unknown Croatian managed to cut Fury over his right eye during a sparring session on Friday, February 2, just 15 days before the undisputed heavyweight championship showdown with Oleksandr Usyk was due to take place.
The 33-year-old southpaw stands at 6’ 6”, sharing the same stance and height as Parker’s forthcoming foe, making him the perfect match for his preparation.
The other heavyweight pictured was Moses Itauma, Frank Warren’s top prospect.
The 7-0 fledgling pro from Chatham, Kent, has taken the British boxing scene by storm, starting with his professional debut in January 2021 where he knocked out winning opponent Marcel Bode within just 23 seconds.
The Slovakian-born puncher already had a heightened profile when he turned pro, owing to his sparring sessions with the likes of Lawrence Okolie when he was only 15-years-old and being able to handle himself against a world champion, and also due his 22-0 amateur record.
He recalled running to his St. Mary’s boxing gym straight from school to spar against Joe Joyce, yawning as he entered the ring after a hard day of maths, geography and double science!
The heavyweight talent, aged 19, aims to trump Mike Tyson’s record of becoming the youngest heavyweight world champion history at 20.
Despite Parker defeating Deontay Wilder in his last fight in December 2023, the former WBO champion will actually enter the ring as a 2/1 underdog.
Zhang also enters the fight off the back of an impressive win, two in fact, over the durable Joe Joyce, knocking the ‘Juggernaut’ out twice in back to back fights, both times within six rounds.
Due to this form, the WBO Interim champion is the favourite to win at 1/2.
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