Parker beats Zhang by majority decision to win WBO interim heavyweight title

Joseph Parker defeated Zhilei Zhang via majority decision (113-113, 114-112, 115-111) to become the new WBO interim heavyweight champion Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Parker survived two knockdowns and outworked Zhang in the second half of the match to pull off the upset.

In his postfight interview, Parker said he plans to fight Zhang for a second time next, as there was a rematch clause in the contract for the fight.

Zhang had a tremendous first nine minutes. The 40-year-old Chinese boxer stayed busier in the first two rounds and then dropped Parker with a straight left in the third.

But the tide turned in Parker's favor in the fourth through seventh rounds. He landed hard punches at a more consistent pace.

Zhang once again stole the momentum in Round 8, clipping Parker early in the stanza and then putting him on the canvas again with a right hook.

Parker overcame that adversity, however, and pulled away in the last four rounds with a clear speed advantage. Zhang faded down the stretch and didn't stay busy enough.

With the victory, Parker is now riding a five-fight winning streak. The 32-year-old New Zealander built on his sensational unanimous decision win over former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder last December in Riyadh and will now be in consideration for a world title shot in the near future.

Zhang suffered just the second defeat of his boxing career, falling to 26-2-1. He had won two straight coming in.