Both of these guys have great momentum at the moment. Lost fights around the same time last year (in Zhang's case, controversial loss) but came back impressively this year. With Fury and Usyk tied up and AJ most likely fighting Hrgovic next, this seems like a logical matchup. Who would win?
I think Zhang has stamina issues and will not enjoy Parker's movement Zhang to exhaust himself and suffer a late Rnd TKO
Like Parker vs Wilder it’s a very interesting fight with some interesting variables. Zhang is far more skilled than Wilder, but he’s also low output with poor stamina. Basically a question of does he lay Parker out with those crisp straight lefts and right hooks, or can Parker get in and out and outwork him? Parker isn’t a high volume fighter either but he can eke out a points decision as we’ve just seen.
Look if you had not already guessed Zhang is my favourite heavyweight fighter right now, however triangle theories have been proven to be invalid in boxing and this is a tough fight for Zhang despite Parker having lost to Joyce. Parker is far more elusive than Joyce. He's not as strong and powerful, but for Zhang to win this one he has to box clever in this hypothetical bout and pick his shots well.
Last I heard, styles make fights. And father time beats all. Parker is only 31, Zhang past 40. I think father time caught up with Joyce his last 2 fights as much as Zhang beat him. I don't believe in Zhang. Most think he beat Hrgovic, I don't. I have no faith in a fighter that old whose last name is not Foreman.
