| WBO INTERNATIONAL SUPER middleweight champion Zach Parker, along with his promoter Frank Warren and manager Neil Marsh, convened at the BT Sport Studios for the opening press conference ahead of his challenge for the WBO Interim world title against the unbeaten two-weight world champion Demetrius Andrade on May 21. Pride Park Stadium, the home of Derby County Football Club will play host to the spectacular event. Andrade, who is awaiting a passport renewal, joined proceedings over Zoom and below is a selection of key quotes from the media gathering. Photos from the press conference can be downloaded here. Frank Warren “On a number of fronts it was important to win the purse bid for this fight. It is for the Interim title so for the winner there is Canelo – who is the current champion – fighting next at light heavyweight. Is he going to stay at that weight where the winner of this will get a shot at him because the mandatory will be due. If he gives up the title the winner of this Interim title will be installed as champion. “From the perspective of Zach I was determined to win the purse bid and give him every opportunity I can because he is with us and is a joy to work with. He has been No.1 with the WBO for quite a while now and is only 27 years of age. He is not only fighting in his hometown, he is fighting at Pride Park, home of his local football club. The reason we are putting it on there is because I want the fans in Derby to get behind him and I am a big believer in trying to get every advantage you can for your fighter. “Demetrius is a two-weight, three-time world champion who is moving up to super middleweight, while I feel Zach is bordering on being a light heavyweight. He is very underestimated in my opinion as a boxer. We know he can punch and I hope the advantages we have secured will translate to a win for him on the night against a real good quality fighter in Demetrius, who we all respect.” Zach Parker “This is the biggest fight of my career and I am going to take it with both hands. He is a two-weight world champion but he is getting on a bit now and I just think it is my time because I am up and coming. “I want to say thanks to Frank Warren and all my team for getting behind me and getting this in Derby, especially at my football club at Pride Park. I am just looking forward to the fight now. “I think everything is going in my favour, Obviously I am young, it is happening in my backyard and the reaction from the crowd has been huge. It will favour me and I will show it on fight night. “He is coming up a weight and I just think I am too big and too strong. You’ve seen in other fights he’s been hurt. When I land I won’t let up and I will get him out of there.” Demetrius Andrade “I can’t wait to get over to England and I believe Frank Warren is going to do a great job getting the Derby fans and my fans as well into the stadium. It will be a great fight, I can’t wait to showcase my skills and talent and put on a great performance. “I am excited to be coming over because I am a world champ who has travelled all over the world and been in the lion’s den plenty of times. Who am I to say I am the best if I can’t go to someone’s back yard and give him an arse-whooping. That is just how it is. Anybody else who lost a purse bid might have pulled out and gone a different route, but that is not me and Zach is going to get the opportunity to have the biggest fight of his life. “It is a great opportunity for him, for me, and the best will move on and forward. This is the fight game so anyone I get in the ring with I am going to lay hands on and bash up. I look at Zach as a young kid trying to make a name for himself and he is going to bring his A-game and the best performance of his life against me. “Hopefully he brings out the best in me and we have a great performance.” Neil Marsh “Me and Zach have been together for six years now and it has been tough getting here. He’d be a much bigger name now if the previous people had promoted him correctly and 14-15 months ago we were looking for a promoter who could take us all the way to the top. We didn’t speak to any other promoter because it was Frank Warren who we wanted to lead us into this next chapter. “You only need to look at Frank’s history to know why we signed with him. He honoured his word and got us the development fights and collectively as a team we believe Zach is ready to go. We are not underestimating Demetrius, who is avoided in the US and I think people could have done a better job for him, hence why he has entered into this agreement with Zach Parker. “Boxing is about timing and this kid here deserves every bit of spotlight he is going to get. The kid is a beast and, because people haven’t seen him on the big stage enough, there is a question mark over him. Let’s be honest, Demetrius’ passport has expired because he didn’t expect to be coming to England. No disrespect, but I think he has got greedy and they are all thinking about Canelo money. “He is going to come to Derby and meet Zach Parker, who is not Liam Williams or Brian Rose. This is a real ding-dong of a fight and my man is going to come out on top.”Tickets for Parker v Andrade start from £55 and are available exclusively from dcfc.co.uk with £10 from every ticket sold going to DCFC to help the club through the current financial hardship.Secure your place to support Zach and the club on a not-to-be-missed night at the Pride Park Stadium! A full undercard will be announced in due course. Please Note: This event is subject to contract and licence approval. |
Tag: Zach Parker
PARKER v MORRISON OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER
| Results from today’s weigh-in below: FIGHT #1 – 17:15 HRS 6 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest DYLAN MORAN – 148.14lbs V M.J HALL – 149.1lbs FIGHT #2 4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Lightweight Contest MACAULEY OWEN – 134.2lbs V CONSTANTIN RADOI – 133.2lbs FIGHT #3 4 X 3 Minute Rounds Bantamweight Contest RAHEEM MUHAMMED – 116.12lbs V REISS TAYLOR – 117.2lbs FIGHT #4 6 X 3 Minute Rounds Featherweight Contest ANDREW CAIN – 126.8lbs V URIEL LOPEZ – 124.11lbs FIGHT #5 6 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Lightweight Contest WILLO HAYDEN – 138.3lbs V LEE CONNOLLY – 138.4lbs FIGHT #6 – 19:55 HRS **LIVE ON BT SPORT** 8 X 3 Minute Rounds Lightweight Contest RYAN GARNER – 133.8lbs V PEDRO MANUEL GOMES – 135.3lbs FIGHT #7 8 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Lightweight Contest EITHAN JAMES – 140.14lbs V STU GREENER – 138.10lbs FIGHT #8 10 X Minute Rounds Middleweight Contest DENZEL BENTLEY – 161.12lbs V SAM EVANS – 161.12lbs FIGHT #9 THE WBO INTERNATIONAL SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP 10 X 3 Minute Rounds @ 168 lbs ZACH PARKER – 168lbs V MARCUS MORRISON – 167.8lbs FIGHT #10 THE VACANT IBO INTERNATIONAL MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP 10 X 3 Minute Rounds @ 160 lbs NATHAN HEANEY – 159.13lbs V SLADAN JANJANIN – 158.8lbs |
PARKER vs MORRISON – OFFICIAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
| QUEENSBERRY staged the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s (6th Nov) show at Utilita Arena, Birmingham that is headlined by Zach Parker’s WBO International Super-Middleweight championship defence against Marcus Morrison, live on BT Sport. Woodville’s Parker (21-0, 15 KOs) will also be risking his status as number one contender for the WBO World title held by Canelo Alvarez when he faces Manchester’s Morrison (24-4, 16 KOs). Here are a selection of quotes from the press conference. FRANCIS WARREN: “It is going to be a great night in Birmingham. Zach against Marcus is the stand out fight. Marcus is a tough opponent who had a great fight with Chris Eubank. There is so much more at stake than Zach’s title. He is number one with the WBO and if he beats Marcus I’m sure he will stay up until the early hours of Sunday watching Canelo v Caleb Plant. The winner of that fight will have to fight their mandatory next year. That fight is for real if Zach comes through. The ultimate dream is for Zach to have a World title fight at Pride Park.” ZACH PARKER: “Marcus is confident. It is a good fight and we’re both going to bring it. The best man will win and that is going to be me. I can’t thank Frank Warren, Neil Marsh and BCB enough for doing all this for me because we’re on the right track. This is about getting the win. We are not going out there looking for the stoppage. I’d rather have the rounds because I’ve stopped my last two opponents early. Marcus is a tough opponent and I am going to bring all I’ve got. Marcus is a big puncher, but I will box and move. I will land the big shots when I want to.” NEIL MARSH (Parker’s manager): “Every fight is a banana skin so for Joe to think we’ve overlooked Marcus is wrong. We have a lot of respect for Joe and Marcus. It comes down to one thing. Boxing is about levels and Zach is a World class boxer. That is nothing against Marcus. I just believe Marcus is a British level fighter – a very confident one. He had a very good win in Italy and a good fight against Chris Eubank Jr . We have been sounding out Eubank because I think Zach stops him in four or five rounds. I believe Zach will stop Marcus. Now we are with Frank Warren and his team we have the right promoter campaigning for us. MARCUS MORRISON: “It’s no secret that Zach is a fully fledged Super-Middleweight, but they came looking for me. I’m a Middleweight, but I have been in with Super-Middleweights, Light-Heavyweights and held my own. I do believe he has made a big mistake. He is comfortable in his number one spot and could’ve choose an easier opponent who doesn’t carry my punch power. I can end this fight in a split-second. This will be more technical than the Eubank fight. Zach is more technically gifted than him and will try to use that to his advantage. This fight will catch fire, big shots will be traded. It’s a battle of two punchers and if I land he’ll go.” JOE GALLAGHER (Morrison’s manager and trainer): “When the fight was offered we snapped it up. When you go through Zach’s record since he beat Darryl Williams which was controversial he has been on a good run of stoppages. There is a lot of noise about Zach, but I am confident in Marcus. It’s a huge opportunity and there is no pressure on Marcus. They are talking about Zach fighting at Pride Park, but after this weekend I hope they have the number for the Etihad because I am sure Marcus would like Canelo at the home of Manchester City. It’s a live fight and no walk in the park. We’re hugely confident of an upset.” On the same bill Stoke-on-Trent’s Nathan Heaney (13-0, 5 KOs) will meet Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Sladan Janjanin (30-8, 23 KOs) for the vacant IBO Intercontinental Middleweight title over ten rounds.Former British Middleweight champion Denzel Bentley 14-1-1, 12 KOs) faces Wednesbury’s Sam Evans (10-1-1, 3 KOs) in a non-title ten rounder.In eight round action is Southampton Lightweight hope Ryan Garner (10-0, 6 KOs) who boxes Portugal’s Pedro Manuel Gomes (9-1, 2 KOs).Irish Welterweight prospect Dylan Moran (15-1, 6 KOs), exciting Liverpool Super-Bantamweight Andrew Cain (7-0, 6 KOs), Northampton Super-Lightweight Eithan James (6-0) and Dubliner Willo Hayden (1-0) all box six rounders.Telford pair, Super-Lightweight Macauley Owen (1-0, 1 KO) and Bantamweight debutant Raheem Muhammed are in four round action. |
ZACH PARKER FACES BRITISH RIVAL MORRISON ON NOVEMBER 6
ZACH PARKER will defend his WBO International Super-Middleweight title against Marcus Morrison at Utilita Arena, Birmingham on Saturday November 6, live on BT Sport.
The champion won’t just be risking his crown, but also his status as number one contender in the rankings for the WBO World title held by Canelo Alvarez when he faces Manchester’s Morrison.
Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren is predicting fireworks when the pair clash in the Midlands on Bonfire weekend.
He said: “It’s a fight I am delighted to have made and it’s a contest that should bring out the best in both guys“Zach is a Queensberry fighter and I believe he wins, but he needs to fight solid opponents like Marcus while he waits for his World title shot.
“Marcus knows this is another great chance. Zach knows that he will bring his best on fight night.
“Zach is one of the avoided men in the division, but the moment Marcus and his team knew there was interest on our side they moved quickly. They believe they can spring an upset.
“I believe fans in the arena and BT Sport viewers will see a fight between two guys who have ability and ambition.”
Parker (21-0, 15 KOs) will be making the second defence of the title he won with an impressive stoppage of American Vaughn Alexander in march.
The Neil Marsh managed boxer made it five wins on the spin in July when he knocked out Sherzod Khusanov in the first round.
Former Manchester City player Morrison (24-4, 16 KOs) has seen his career kick on since July 2019 when he travelled to Italy and upset former European champion and World title challenger Emanuele Blandamura in nine rounds.
In May he took on Chris Eubank Jr and pushed him all the way before going down on points after ten rounds.
Massive Stoke-on-Trent ticket seller Nathan Heaney (13-0, 5 KOs) will meet Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Sladan Janjanin (30-8, 23 KOs) for the vacant IBF Intercontinental Middleweight title.
British and Commonwealth Super-Middleweight champion Lennox Clarke (20-1-1, 8 KOs) has his first fight since his title winning upset win against Willy Hutchinson.
Scotland’s former World Youth amateur champion Hutchinson (13-1, 9 KOs) has his first fight since losing his unbeaten record against Clarke and faces Westbury’s Anthony Fox (8-13-4).
High Wycombe Lightweight Henry Turner (5-0), Northampton Super-Lightweight Eithan James (6-0) and Dublin’s Willo Hayden (1-0) all box six rounders.
Atherstone Super-Lightweight hope George Bance (2-0) and Telford Bantamweight debutant Raheem Muhammed are in four round action.
