The Heavyweights once again take center stage in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this weekend (Fri., Mar. 8, 2024) for “Knockout Chaos,” headlined by former unified champion, Anthony Joshua, locking horns with multi-sport menace, Francis Ngannou (odds here).
The DAZN-streamed pay-per-view (PPV) event will also feature a pivotal showdown between interim WBO Heavyweight champion, Zhang Zhilei, taking on professional spoiler, Joseph Parker, who torched the aforementioned Joshua’s long-awaited showdown against Deontay Wilder by out-classing “The Bronze Bomber” back in Dec. 2023 (watch highlights).
Whoever wins will be in line to either challenge the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk or claim the belt outright should the undisputed champ vacate. Nevertheless, let’s see who the oddsmakers are like in this clash of styles …
Moneyline
Total Rounds
To go the Distance
Fight Outcome
- Zhilei Zhang by Decision or Technical Decision +400
- Zhilei Zhang by KO/TKO/DQ −120
- Draw +1600
- Joseph Parker by Decision or Technical Decision +350
- Joseph Parker by KO/TKO/DQ +600
Round Betting
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In Round 1 +4000
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In Round 2 +3000
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In Round 3 +2500
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In Round 4 +2000
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In Round 5 +1600
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In Round 6 +1400
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In Round 7 +1200
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In Round 8 +1200
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In Round 9 +1200
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In Round 10 +1200
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In Round 11 +1400
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In Round 12 +1600
- Zhilei Zhang Decision Or Tech Decision +400
- Draw +1600
- Joseph Parker to Win In Round 1 +10000
- Joseph Parker to Win In Round 2 +10000
- Joseph Parker to Win In Round 3 +10000
- Joseph Parker to Win In Round 4 +8000
- Joseph Parker to Win In Round 5 +6500
- Joseph Parker to Win In Round 6 +5000
- Joseph Parker to Win In Round 7 +4000
- Joseph Parker to Win In Round 8 +4000
- Joseph Parker to Win In Round 9 +4000
- Joseph Parker to Win In Round 10 +4000
- Joseph Parker to Win In Round 11 +4000
- Joseph Parker to Win In Round 12 +5000
- Joseph Parker Decision Or Tech Decision +350
Alternate Round Betting
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In 1-6 Rounds +380
- Zhilei Zhang to Win In 7-12 Rounds +180
- Zhilei Zhang Decision or Tech Decision +400
- Draw +1600
- Joseph Parker to Win In 1-6 Rounds +1800
- Joseph Parker to Win In 7-12 Rounds +900
- Joseph Parker Decision or Tech Decision +350
Round Group Betting
- Zhilei Zhang To Win In Rounds 1-3 +1200
- Zhilei Zhang To Win In Rounds 4-6 +550
- Zhilei Zhang To Win In Rounds 7-9 +380
- Zhilei Zhang To Win In Rounds 10-12 +450
- Zhilei Zhang Decision or Tech Decision +400
- Draw +1600
- Joseph Parker To Win In Rounds 1-3 +4000
- Joseph Parker To Win In Rounds 4-6 +2200
- Joseph Parker To Win In Rounds 7-9 +1600
- Joseph Parker To Win In Rounds 10-12 +1800
- Joseph Parker Decision or Tech Decision +350
When Will The Fight End
- To Go the Distance +125
- Round 7 +1000
- Round 8 +1000
- Round 9 +1000
- Round 10 +1000
- Round 11 +1100
- Round 6 +1200
- Round 5 +1400
- Round 12 +1400
- Round 4 +1800
- Round 3 +2200
- Round 2 +2500
- Round 1 +3000
Either Alternate Round Betting
- To Go the Distance +125
- Fight to Be Won in Rounds 7-12 +145
- Fight to Be Won in Rounds 1-6 +300
Thoughts: This matchup couldn’t be any more different to the main event, but the same betting strategy should pay dividends. Parker is nearly a decade younger, far more mobile, and has a significantly deeper gas tank than Zhang. If the fight goes long, it’s Parker’s to lose, so that +350 Parker decision line strikes me as the best pick.
You could also do Parker straight-up at +190, but Parker’s killer instinct rarely shows up against high-level opposition, so that just seems like leaving money on the table.
Zhang believers should consider either 1-6 at +380 or decision at +400. Zhang has never scored a stoppage after the sixth round. And even though Parker did get finished late by Joe Joyce, Zhang’s gameplan is far less attrition-heavy. If he’s going to stop Parker, he’ll do it by just smashing him into the dirt before his 40-year-old, 280-pound body gives out.
For more on “Joshua vs. Ngannou” and other boxing-related events, click here.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania