Zhilei Zhang Wants To Activate Joseph Parker Rematch Clause: ‘Hopefully, It Will Happen Next’
Heavyweight contender Zhilei Zhang has said he wants to activate a rematch clause to fight Joseph Parker again, believing the clause is still active following their bout in March.
Zhang (27-2-1 22 KO) and Parker (35-3-0 23 KO) contested a highly competitive and entertaining bout in the co-main event of ‘Knockout Chaos’ – the crossover bout between Anthony Joshua and MMA star Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Zhang looked to be cruising to victory when he dropped Parker twice in the third and eighth rounds, but the New Zealander came on strong for the second half of the fight to earn a majority decision victory.
The result saw Parker take Zhang’s WBO interim title to move himself back into world title contention, although the Chinese fighter bounced back by knocking out former world champion Deontay Wilder as part of the 5-vs-5 event in Saudi Arabia in June.
Zhang is now aiming to secure a second fight with Parker having had a rematch clause inserted into the contract of their first bout. However, there could be an issue about its validity, with the possibility that it might have expired. ‘Big Bang’, though, is confident there is still time.
“Joseph Parker is a warrior, and I don’t think he is fearful of anyone,” Zhang told Razed. “He definitely felt my power, but I don’t think he is scared of me or anyone.
“He is a warrior, and we have the rematch clause so hopefully, it will take place next. I believe I am still within the rematch clause timeframe and believe we have the right to negotiate a rematch in this case and this is what I want.”
Something of a late bloomer, 41-year-old Zhang thrust himself into contention last year with successive stoppage wins over British fighter Joe Joyce.
Having won the WBO interim title, incidentally by knocking out Parker in September 2022, Joyce was heavily fancied to beat Zhang in April 2023 before moving on to world title fights. However, the Chinese fighter stunned his opponent and the boxing world by stopping Joyce in the sixth round.
Determined to win back his belt and get his journey to world titles back on track, Joyce activated an immediate rematch but was stopped even more emphatically by Zhang the second time in September 2023, getting knocked out in the third round.
It’s no understatement that the twin defeats to Zhang completely derailed Joyce’s career, and the former Olympic silver medallist is back in action on Saturday in London aiming for a final chance to return to the top table of the heavyweight division.
His opponent in London on Saturday is Derek Chisora and the British veteran decided to taunt Joyce at Friday’s weigh-in by wearing a mask depicting Zhang’s face.
