Zhang Wants Joshua In China Or The Middle East
Zhilei Zhang has officially called out Anthony Joshua for a super fight in China or the Middle East.
Zhang’s comments come in the aftermath of Joshua’s win over Otto Wallin. The victory has put him on course to face Filip Hrgovic in a possible IBF title eliminator, as the winner of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk will likely be stripped due to the rematch clause. Zhang, however, is ready to step up and offer Joshua an alternative. The WBO heavyweight interim champion is having the best moment of his career.
He stopped Joe Joyce in back-to-back fights to showcase his credentials at the age of 40. The southpaw is in line to face the winner of Fury-Usyk, but he will have to wait sometime since the IBF mandatory will be called first. Zhang had expressed his desire to fight Fury, but Joyce’s decision to exercise the rematch clause meant the fight never got made. But since Zhang and Joshua have a history, a fight could occur. They have only fought at the 2012 London Olympics, during which Zhang came up short. Now, the boxer wants to avenge that loss.
Zhang On Joshua
“I’d like to go after Joshua because he’s probably looking at [Filip] Hrgovic as a potential fight. But if you look at Hrgovic’s resume. He was gifted a win. He beat me to become the [IBF heavyweight] mandatory challenger.
“When you look at Joshua’s potential fight with Hrgovic, I just don’t think it makes that much commercial sense because if he [Joshua] comes to me, the whole of England will be watching, and the whole of China will be watching, and the whole Middle East. Everybody will be watching,” Zhang said
Aside from Joshua, there are other alternatives for Zhang. Joseph Parker or Deontay Wilder could be options. Parker lost to Joyce, the same man Zhang stopped so emphatically, meaning a step up for the former WBO heavyweight champion. A Wilder fight is also an intriguing option. The Bronze Bomber has a lot to prove following the loss to Parker. A Zhang fight would undoubtedly benefit the boxing fanbase since both fighters can stop each other with one punch. Wilder taking the fight presents a big risk since he cannot afford another loss, so Parker is likelier.
Zhang’s Other Options
“Parker might be a good option. Right now, he’s hot, and everybody is looking at him like, ‘Wow, he’s really good,’ and he’s won a couple of fights recently. So, if I can’t get any of these guys, Joseph Parker would be a good option. You never know. Styles make fights. I beat Parker in the 2011 world championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, and that was a while ago. If he wants revenge, go ahead, come,” Zhang
Zhang is no easy fight, which is why he is an avoided man, but with the rise of the Saudis in boxing, the best fights are being made. And Zhang could be one of those names in the mix. ‘Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com’
