Demythologizing Zhang: Hearn Pushes Parker as Favorite in Heavyweight Clash

Image: Demythologizing Zhang: Hearn Pushes Parker as Favorite in Heavyweight Clash
Riydah, Saudi Arabia: Deontay Wilder v Joseph Parker, Heavyweight Contest. 23 December 2023 Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing.
By Jamie Eskdale - 01/15/2024 - Comments

Promoter Eddie Hearn feels that Joseph Parker should be the favorite over WBO interim heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang on March 8th in their co-feature bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Hearn believes that Zhang (26-1-1, 21 KOs) has received too much credit for his two victories over Joe Joyce and his questionable defeat against Filip Hrgovic.

He says Zhang has been exulted and put on a pedestal for destroying Joyce twice, stopping him in the sixth round in their first fight in April 2023 and then in three rounds in their rematch in September.

Hearn doesn’t mention that Joyce dominated Parker, stopping him in the eleventh round in September 2022. That was one-sided.

It’s hard for boxing fans to wrap their heads around Hearn’s view because common sense would tell you that if Parker lost badly to Joyce and Zhang destroyed that same fighter twice, the only conclusion that you can come to is Joseph could be doomed against ‘Big Bang’ on March 8th.

Hearn’s Skeptical Stance

“I think it’s a great fight. I think Joseph Parker is the favorite. I think a lot of people were taking the victories over Joe Joyce for Zhang, and probably the performance against [Filip] Hrgovic in putting this guy on the pedestal,” said Eddie Hearn to the media, talking about WBO interim heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang receiving too much credit for his fights against Joyce and Hrgovic.

“He is a great fighter, but if Joe uses the movement like he did in the Wilder fight, I believe he’s the favorite in the fight,” said Hearn.

Here’s one way of looking at Hearn’s view. If Zhang beats Parker, which will likely happen, there will be a lot of pressure from fans put on Hearn to match Anthony Joshua against Zhilei. That’s, of course, if Francis Ngannou doesn’t beat Joshua on March 8th.

Many fans will put Hearn’s feet to the fire, demanding that he match Joshua against Zhang if the two come out victorious in their fights on the March 8th card.

Hearn won’t be able to get the fans to quiet down by diminishing Zhang’s win like he’s doing with his victories over Joyce and his controversial loss to Hrgovic.