Joseph Parker has confirmed he is fighting on the Joshua-Ngannou undercard

I think it will be Parker vs Zhang......

 

Zhang has options with Parker and Wilder both wanting the fight it seems. But yeah I suspect it will more likely be Parker vs Zhang. I have doubts that Wilder really even wants Zhang and just said that to look good knowing Parker/Zhang is the more likely fight to be made as Zhang doesn't seem afraid of a tough fight and would clearly pick the winner Parker over the loser Wilder if given the choice.

 

Actually it's not.
Ngannou just of today confirmed, he is essentially the Wilder replacement.
AJ - Wilder was signed and ready. So your claim of AJ ducking Hrgovic/Zhang is terrible.
As people on here were claiming that AJ was ducking Wilder before the December fights.

AJ won his so call eliminator, blame Wilder for losing, and just losing, but losing so badly Saudi decide to scratch the match completely.
And Ngannou was the Saudi call. They offered the fight to both.

AJ was schedule to fight Wilder, Wilder lost, and Saudi replace Wilder with Ngannou.

But AJ haters trying out to make it like AJ is ducking Hrgovic.

The question for AJ was to either fight in March in the Saudi event or wait for the summer for the vacant IBF title. He was offered the Ngannou fight by the Saudi and he accepted it.

As far as Parker goes. Zhang was offered the Wilder fight from the Saudi. Zhang accepted, and they are now waiting for Wilder to say Yes. WIlder so far has been all quiet.
If he reject the fight, he is just showing what a pos he always was.
Parker was essentially another cherry-pick goes wrong, as he most probably though that if Joyce can constantly punch him and KO him, then i can do that too.
That's why they were talking a big game, about Wilder being Dr.-Sleep and how he would KO Parker inside 3 rounds.

I guess that people have preference on here, but be a little objective.

Parker is 100% going to fight in March 8, and the whole card going to be insane again. It's still not sure who his opponent going to be, as they are waiting on Wilder to say whether he wants to fight Zhang or no.

 

I've already had this conversation with you, just a few days ago. If you want to re read the posts feel free.

 

Zhang accepted the fight, and there is a video of him, praising and urging Wilder to take the fight.
If Wilder do ducks the fight, this sums him perfectly. This is his last chance to get in the big game, as Zhang is WBO mandatory, and with Wilder name if he wins, he will get another fight for the title very soon. He may even get an easy touch, when the titles get vacated/stripped.

This is a no brainer, and Wilder has to be incredibly stupid to turn this fight down.

Saudi are still waiting for his answer to fight Zhang.
I'm wondering also if he reject the Zhang fight, will Saudi offer him another fighter on that undercard?

 

We haven't talk about Ngannou being the effective replacement of Wilder. Ngannou just confirmed it today.
So all the talk about AJ having an easy touch can be send to Deontey Wilder, as it's his fault, cause he lost his fight, and literally didn't do his part of the deal.

And AJ was never going to fight Hrgovic next, as Hearn already explain that IBF won't be ready, and you can't make the fight like this with title not being on the line. IBF first has to strip Usyk, then they have to order a fight between the Number 1 and Number 2, and there is zero time for that in March.

Hrgovic fight is next in the summer, unless AJ loses to Ngannou, or Hrgovic loses in the meantime.

Let's see though if Hrgovic will actually have balls and fight someone decent, and not De Mori type of fighter again.

 

This ain't the case. The number 1 fight Saudi trying to make is Wilder - Zhang. Parker is the replacement if Wilder ducken out.
And where did you get that info that Wilder said he wants Zhang? Since the offer is made, Wilder gone completely hidden. Zhang already made interview he is ready and want the fight, praising Wilder and urge him to accept the fight, saying he has nothing to lose.

It's all in the Wilder hands now. If he ducken out, it's going to be Parker - Zhang.
I don't think Hrgovic will risk his status against Parker as well. So if Wilder don't duck out of the fight, it could be Parker vs completely new name.
The press is for January 15th., so i expect we will have more info by then.

But given Wilder silence, he is prolly going to duck the fight.
Wilder is looking at easy fights against the best possible opponent.

He saw Parker, as someone who was just KOed by Joyce. And he said to himself ok a slow-motion Joyce KO this guy, i can do it to.

 

I suspect you are right and Wilder will duck the fight. I was amazed he took the Parker fight and yes after the Joyce KO he probably thought he could repeat that. Zhang has a good chin and KO power so I don't expect him to accept the offer. It will be Parker/Zhang.

 

Which is sad, cause i think Zhang will KO Parker. To be fair i wanna see Zhang in more big fights like this, so we can rate him more, not just from Hrgovic and Joyce fight. I think even though Zhang is 40+ i think he is still getting better all around.
My gut is this guy is most devastating puncher in the division currently.

Parker is on the high and i think he should have a bit an easier touch and fight for a title after that.

Wilder - Zhang made a lot more sense to me.
Parker could have fought Dubois or even Bakole.

Zhang would have a big name if beats Wilder. And if Wilder wins he is back in the mix straight away.
And Parker would have a bit an easier touch, and Dubois/Bakole may prove themself.
I think we will find out very soon. I expect a lot of fights to be announced come the presser at 15th.

 

Why would Wilder fight Zhang?

He needs a fight to get his confidence back - not the WBO Interim champ

 

I would prefer Wilder/Zhang too, because it's a great match up with the 2 biggest hitters in the division and I also think Parker might lose vs Zhang, as his new come forward style would play into Zhang's counter style. Movement will be Zhang's undoing and I'm not confident in Parker's back foot game to be sure he comes out on top.

Parker isn't the type to avoid tough fights, he's proven he's fearless throughout his career, so if Wilder passes on Zhang as I suspect, I fully expect him to agree to Zhang.

 

We've done this already mate. I have nothing to add.

 

I'm not into confidence fights. Why should people have to pay for a fight that he is guaranteed to win.

Meaningful fights only imo.

 

Even if Parker agrees to fight Hrgovic, something will still get in the way, Hrgovic should fight Bakole at that same event.

 

I doubt Hrgovic wants to take much risk with a fight with Joshua for the IBF title looming in the summer. Probably a stay busy kind of fight if he fights before then.