Joseph Parker’s last two victims, China’s Zhilei Zhang and American Deontay Wilder, will fight each other in Riyadh in June, the latest example of how Saudi Arabian money is changing the face of professional boxing in unprecedented ways.
It was announced this morning that Zhang and Wilder will fight on the undercard of the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol undisputed world light heavyweight clash on June 2 NZT.
Rarely, if ever, have two recently defeated boxers been offered such a high-profile and lucrative bout for their next visit to the ring.
Before Christmas, Parker made about $9million fighting Wilder, whom he beat in a surprisingly one-sided clash, and it’s difficult to imagine Zhang, whom he beat over 12 rounds in March, and Wilder agreeing to meet for anything less than that.
There is also the not so insignificant matter of a re-match clause in the Zhang v Parker contract, which Zhang said in the aftermath of his defeat that he wanted to honour.
But such is the money, and therefore power, wielded by the oil-rich Saudis that that little detail has been overlooked, not that it will have come as a surprise to Parker, who told 1News recently that he doubted Turki Al-Sheikh, an adviser to the Royal Court and effectively the world’s new boxing supremo, would want to see a re-match.
Either way, the Zhang v Wilder fight has the potential to make Parker look good without him having to lace up a glove.
Wilder, previously the most feared puncher in the sport, lacked spark in his defeat to Parker and was perhaps fortunate not to be knocked out.
Many wondered whether his heart was in it – a theme he didn’t do much to dispel in a downbeat interview in the ring afterwards.
A resounding victory for Wilder over Zhang will burnish his reputation once more, and the same applies to the Chinese heavyweight, who dropped Parker twice before running out of steam in the second half of the fight to lose by a majority decision.
Indeed, in an interview after the Wilder victory which started Parker’s stunning rise back up the rankings, the Kiwi said it was easy to be wise after the event.
“I can see everyone questioning ‘was he [Wilder] even good?' Listen, he was a devastating heavy puncher. He has done a lot in the heavyweight division and he’s still got a lot to give.
“That night wasn’t his night. It was my night. I worked very hard and kept busy. I did everything right heading into that fight… to question him and what he’s done, I don’t think it’s fair.”
A re-match against both Zhang and Wilder is still possible for Parker but there may be momentum gathering towards a showdown with Brit Daniel Dubois, who is fighting Croatian Filip Hrgovic on the Riyadh card.
Parker, who recently celebrated the birth of his son, will receive more clarity on his opponent in June or July, but it’s likely he will fight again in September or October and possibly at London’s Wembley Arena, according to sources spoken to by 1News.
Another unusual aspect of the Zhang v Wilder clash is that it’s part of a unique “5v5” card, with rival promoters Matchroom and Queensbury working with fighters they normally wouldn’t be associated with.
That applies especially to Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, who has Wilder in his corner, a man with whom Hearn has had a rocky history.
“Deontay Wilder cannot stand me,” Hearn said at the announcement today, with Wilder replying: “This is the ultimate surprise, right here”.
“I love how his excellency Turki has come in and re-arranged and changed the way boxing is promoted,” Wilder added.
Such is the power of money.
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