Photo: AFP
New Zealand boxer Joseph Parker is again crediting his team for having him in great shape for Saturday's heavyweight showdown with Zhilei 'Big Bag' Zhang in Riyadh.
The pair meet on the undercard to the Anthony Joshua bout with former UFC star Francis Ngannou.
Parker is coming off arguably one of the best performances of his career when he beat American Deontay Wilder in a unanimous decision in December which took his record to 34 and 3.
Zhang has a record of 26-1-1 and has held the WBO interim heavyweight title since last year.
It's his most recent victories that has given him the favouritism over Parker.
40 year old Zhang twice knocked out Brit Joe Joyce in 2023, while Parker lost to Joyce in 2022.
However 32 year old Parker doesn't believe that record is relevant here.
"Zhang did an excellent job in beating Joe Joyce twice," Parker told the pre-fight media conference.
"The fighter that I was when I fought Joe Joyce is a totally different fighter now physically and mentally.
"He's the favourite going into this fight and he said I'm the underdog but I'll show you what I can do come fight night.
A lot of the credit for Parker's renaissance in recent years has been given to Irish trainer Andy Lee.
Parker has also taken on board nutritionist George Lockhart.
"I have a great team that I fully trust and believe in.
"When everything is going good in camp and everything is balanced and you feel great and you're seeing results I feel dangerous and Zhang is going to feel the danger.
Zhang Zhilei (R) of China on his way to beating Joe Joyce of Britain in their WBO heavyweight interim title boxing rematch in London, 2023. Photo: AFP
A silver-medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Zhang boasts an enormous 1.97m frame and won of the most powerful left-hands in the heavyweight ranks.
He holds a significant height advantage over Parker and carries a big punch.
"Joseph Parker is a hell of a fighter, he's young and hungry and he's coming here for the belt, Zhang said at the media conference.
"I'm the Tiger right here, I'm here to hunt, if you want to take the food out of my mouth you're going to pay the price.
In the typical pre-fight banter, Parker responded.
"He said he wanted to bang me, I just want to say to Zhang I'm going to bang you.
To win Parker will probably have to adopt a similar game plan he used against Wilder and us his speed and fitness to tire Zhang.
Whoever wins is likely to line up a fight with WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine.
