Zhilei Zhang is being thought about as a prospective challenger for Anthony Joshua’s following battle in March.
Joshua was intending to box Deontay Wilder. Yet after Joseph Parker disturbed the American last month, Joshua was left seeking different challengers.
Various other feasible alternatives along with Zhang supposedly consist of previous UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou and Filip Hrgovic, the compulsory opposition for the IBF title.
China’s Zhang presently holds a WBO Meantime title after he beat British challenger Joe Joyce.
In 2023 Zhang boxed Joyce two times, stopping him on both events.
The hard-punching Chinese southpaw is currently 40 years of ages and won a silver medal at the Olympic Gamings back in 2008.
He boxed Joshua in the novices, shedding to him in the 2012 Olympics in London.
On his Instagram account Zhang composed: “I shed to a much better male 11 years back in the Olympics. I enjoy we have both come a lengthy means, experienced ups and downs in life.
” Currently it’s time to do this for the sporting activity of boxing and provide it to the followers all over the world. Allow’s obtain it on!”
Joshua shed his unified globe champion to Oleksandr Usyk and might not defeat the Ukrainian in a 2022 rematch. Yet he has actually restored from those 2 beats, acquiring 3 gain the program of 2023.
Most just recently he hammered Otto Wallin in excellent design and the previous titlist prepares to make a return to champion course.
Tyson Fierceness, that holds the WBC belt, would certainly be a significant British defend Joshua. Yet Fierceness’s marketer Frank Warren formerly informed Skies Sports Joshua would certainly “have a long haul” for him.
” Tyson’s obtained his battle and his program’s laid out for [the] year and presently in time does not consist of Joshua,” Warren stated.
Fierceness battles Usyk for the indisputable title on February 17 and both are extensively anticipated to have a rematch later on in 2024 too.