Undefeated middleweight contender, Zach Parker, has had a frustrating 2022 with the collapse of two slated encounters with Demtrius Andrade for the WBO interim super-middleweight title. All is not in vain however as he faces the biggest test of his career to date in former world title challenger and an in form John Ryder at the 02 Arena on Saturday 27th of November. A clash which is scintillating in a blend of styles on paper and truly defines a 50/50 fight.
Parker has been out of action for 55 weeks which is one hell of a lay of considering that he is now entering he prime of his career. The Andrade debacle was originally scheduled for May of this year and would have taken place at Pride Park, the home of Derby County Football Club of which Parker is a regular at watching his beloved Rams. Injury on behalf of Andrade put the skids on that particular date with Frank Warren winning the purse bids with an offer just shy of $2 million. No date was ever rescheduled but instead the WBO ordered purse bids once again of which Frank Warren won again but this time with a winning bid of just in excess of $300 thousand.
However Zach despite his disappointment is now looking forward to Saturday’s fight with Ryder, which he concedes is a better fight for him.
“This year has been a bit frustrating, but I’ve tried to remain positive, knowing that an opportunity like this would come,” Parker told BoxingScene.com. “That was a devastating blow, though. We sold over 10,000 tickets for that fight. When you’re at that top level, you just have to remain patient and ready. You never know what’s around the corner. We were patient and this fight came along.
“It would’ve been a good fight and a big event. This is going to be a better fight. John Ryder will be right there. I won’t have to go looking for him.”
Parker claims that he personally thought that in Andrade’s thinking that he would just get a direct opportunity at Canelo and hence why the he eventually refused the fight, However the WBO stuck to their guns and gave their backing to Parker in keeping his legitimate position to fight for the interim title which is serving as a final eliminator to face Canelo.
“I’ve been calling out big fights for years now. With Andrade, he’s unbeaten, he was the WBO champion and ready to move up in weight,” noted Parker of his desire to face Andrade at a time when few others would look in the direction of the unbeaten American. “He obviously thought he’d just go straight to Canelo.
“Fortunately, the WBO backed me. I’ve been the mandatory for a couple of years now. He thought he might get the fight over in America. Frank Warren won the purse bid and got it my backyard. It never happened but I’m glad that John stepped up to the plate when he was offered the fight.”
“Andrade was always complaining that nobody wanted to fight him. Well, we were ready,” noted Parker. “His name would have looked great on my resume, but now I’m focused on beating John Ryder. It should be a better fight and a win still gets me to the same destination.”
