Zach Parker believes his size advantage and skillset will see him upset Demetrius Andrade on May 21.
Parker (22-0, 16 KOs) takes on two-weight world champion, Andrade (31-0, 19 KOs) at Pride Park Stadium – the home to his beloved Derby County – for the WBO interim super middleweight crown, live on BT Sport.
Andrade is moving up in weight after making a fifth defence of his WBO middleweight crown with a second round stoppage of Jason Quigley in November and his British rival, who has won his last five by knockout insists the American will feel the force of his power.
“He’s undefeated, I’m undefeated, someone’s 0 has to go,” Parker told proboxing-fans.com at Friday’s first press conference.
“I just think I’m an awkward style and I’m massive for the weight and every shot I punch with it’s going to hurt.
“He’s only boxed at light middle and middleweight and he’s been hurt in them fights before as well.
“As soon as I get you, I won’t let up.”
Asked if he needs a knockout to win the fight, the 27-year-old replied: “No not at all.
“People haven’t even seen what I can do boxing wise, but the plan is for them to see it on May 21.
“I ain’t just a banger, I can box as well. That’s why I won national amateur championships, ABA’s, everything as an amateur, because I can box as well.”
The winner of the fight is in line for a shot at undisputed super middleweight champion, Canelo Alvarez who is set to face WBA light heavyweight titlist, Dmitry Bivol on May 7, before an expected trilogy with Gennady Golovkin at 168lbs, providing both men win their respective upcoming bouts, with the latter meeting Ryota Murata in a middleweight unification in Japan on Saturday.
Canelo’s promoter, Eddie Hearn has revealed plans for the Mexican great to fight in the UK in December and should Alvarez decide to vacate his WBO belt, the victor of Parker-Andrade would be elevated to full champion.
The Derby man, who halted Marcus Morrison in four rounds in November, admits he is keen to face the four-weight world champion, but insists his focus is becoming world champion even if Canelo relinquishes the belt.
“That’s the fight that we want.
“We want to be in the fight game for the biggest fight nights.
“He’s got the world title at the minute and like I said in the press conference, I want a world title, Demetrius is just in my way from getting that.
“When I win on May 21, if obviously Canelo vacates, I’ll get made world champion straight away, because this is for the interim [title].
“Either he boxes me or vacates, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Watch the full interview with Zach Parker below:
