Faster Joseph Parker rallies from two knockdowns to defeat Zhilei Zhang.

Joesph Parker’s career rejuvenation continued on Friday at Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arena. Parker proved the oddsmakers wrong for the second consecutive time – winning by majority decision over Zhilei Zhang.  

Scores were 113-113, 114-112, 115-111.

Maxboxing scored the fight for Parker 114-112.

“Thank you to my team,” said Parker. “Andy (Lee, his trainer) told me to keep me composure.”

In the opening round, the faster Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) bobbed, feinted, and tried to find an opening against the huge and dangerous Zhang.

Zhang, a southpaw, pawed with his right. He landed a left but ate a right hand to the face. Zhang’s jab landed. Parker went to the body. 

Parker fired a right to the belly in round two. Zhang (26-2, 21 KOs) fired a right that caught Parker. The New Zealander fought back with a left and right. Parker came out jabbing in round three. He slid to his left and fired.

Zhang caught Parker on the top of the head.

A big left sent Parker down on the seat of his pants. Parker was hurt, but got up quickly. Zhang leveled him with another left, but Parker remained upright. Parker was bleeding from his nose. Zhang opened up with more lefts that connected in round four. Parker let fly with a combination that Zhang blocked. Seconds later, Parker landed. A big right from Parker wobbled Zhang. Parker did well in round five as well. His quick right hand caught Zhang. Zhang was waiting too much. He did land a right hook. Parker was busier. He had come back well after being knocked down. 

In round six, Parker moved slightly to his right. His hands are faster, his head movement perplexing the big man, but Zhang’s hands are heavier. Zhang just missed with his dangerous left. Parker worked the belly. He was stealing rounds. Parker continued the trend in round seven. Zhang landed a left. Parker fired two straight rights. 

The fight was close through seven rounds. Parker was busier, but Zhang had scored a knockdown. Parker landed a big right in round eight. Zhang absorbed it well. Zhang connected with a short right shot that floored 

Parker for the second time. Parker got up and seconds later, fought back.

Parker was moving more in round nine. He jabbed to the body and head. Zhang snapped Parker’s head back. Parker fired two lead rights that scored. Parker got off first in round 10. Zhang calmly jabbed, perhaps too calmly. Parker landed a nice combo. Zhang waited. Parker landed a nice uppercut. He unloaded a combination. Zhang backed off. 

With two rounds to go, the fight was still up for grabs. Parker had rallied back after the knockdowns. Parker bobbed and jabbed. He landed a lead right. Zhang edged slowly forward. He landed a short hook. Parker fought back. Again, he was the busier fighter. 

The 12^th and final round could decide the fight. Zhang looked winded. His corner told him he needed a knockout. Parker jabbed to the body and head. Zhang didn’t land a punch. he tried, but there was nothing left. Parker connected with a right. He fired a combination–and finished the fight punching.