_1669321418.jpg)
Zach Parker gave a much-needed reminder of his capabilities by blasting out Jack Arnfield inside four rounds in Birmingham on Saturday night.
Parker, 25-1 (18 KOs), was on the verge of a fight with Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez until a badly broken hand brought an early end to his WBO interim super-middleweight title fight with John Ryder in November 2022.
Since that disappointing night, Parker has beaten Khalid Graidia and Tyron Zeuge without looking like the fighter who appeared to be one of the best prospects in the world at 168lbs during his rise to prominence.
On Saturday the 30 year old looked more like his did before fighting Ryder, and he did exactly what a fighter of his calibre should against an opponent like Arnfield, who was once respected but had boxed only once in six years.
Parker visibly grew in confidence throughout the fight and imposed himself more and more as the rounds passed. Midway through the fourth he cut loose. He first dropped Arnfield heavily with a hard right hand, and he then coldly took him out.
It was the first time Parker has dispatched an opponent in clinical fashion since he boxed Marcus Morrison in 2021, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
“I feel back to myself,” he said. “I got back to basics a bit. I stopped switch-hitting a little bit and I felt good in there; it was good to get a good stoppage. We’re back on track.
“I gave up a lot to do this. Obviously I came in at the last minute. I was meant to be on my stag do this weekend but all my mates are away, having a good time on my stag do. I’m still here.”
Having built his reputation at super middleweight, the fight with Arnfield was made at just below the light-heavyweight limit. Parker has spoken about his willingness to compete in either division but looked suited to the heavier weight, and given the depth of the talent at light heavyweight in Britain alone, he may well find it easier to secure the big fights he is desperate to get involved in at 175lbs.
“All the belts [at 168lbs] are held up at the minute with ‘Canelo’,” he said. “If he vacates, it opens up a lot of opportunities but you don’t know with him. Obviously, there’s a lot of British fights out there at light heavyweight. This one was made at 12st 4lbs. Imagine me at 12st 7lbs against these top lads. I’ve got dynamite in both hands. We’ve got Willy Hutchinson and Joshua Buatsi coming up soon and I’ll have any one of them.
“If there are big fights at super middle I can still get back down there but my options are open.”