John Fury has lauded the ‘nuts’ on Joseph Parker for taking a fight with Zhilei Zhang, just eight weeks after he shocked the world by outpointing generational power-puncher Deontay Wilder.
Parker threw a spanner in the works of the heavyweight division as he whitewashed Wilder last month, seemingly putting an end to any hopes of witnessing the American take on Anthony Joshua.
Now it has been revealed that the New Zealander will face Zhilei Zhang, with the WBO Interim title up for grabs on the undercard of Joshua’s clash with former UFC phenomenon Francis Ngannou.
In an interview with Seconds Out, John Fury applauded the efforts of Parker, who has re-emerged as a threat to the heavyweight throne, six years after he lost his world title to Joshua.
“Fair play to Joe Parker because he is a dangerous man is Zhang, isn’t he? He was in the right place at the right time with Deontay Wilder, it was a great win for him and Joe Parker, he deserves everything.
“At the end of the day, look at the set of nuts that this man has got, he’s fighting Zhilei Zhang, probably the most unwanted fighter out of all of the top ten, and he is prepared to get into the ring with him.
“Big up to Joe Parker, well done to him, and you know what? He has got to be careful of Zhang, because he is like the dark horse of the division and he will be throwing. He is a southpaw, he is a big kid, great fight, a must-watch.”
Joshua-Ngannou will take place on March 8th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with full details regarding the undercard now officially confirmed.