Over the last year, Zhilei Zhang has enjoyed a prosperous period, securing two stoppage wins against Britain’s Joe Joyce and earning the status of mandatory challenger for the WBO world heavyweight title. Despite this achievement, the likelihood of Zhang facing the current titleholder, Oleksandr Usyk, seems slim in the immediate future.

Usyk is currently slated to face WBC champion Tyson Fury on February 17 for the undisputed world heavyweight title, making Zhang’s chances of a bout against the Ukrainian improbable in the near term. Regardless, Zhang wants to stay active and is now out hunting for a new opponent. While Anthony Joshua‘s team did consider him a good fight for Joshua’s next challenge, there are now rumors about Deontay Wilder facing the Chinese heavyweight.

Zhilei Zhang Sings Praises of Deontay Wilder

Joshua has now decided to face Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion who took the world of boxing by storm after knocking down the heavyweight titan, Tyson Fury, in his debut match. After Wilder’s defeat against Joseph Parker, Joshua has no plans of fighting him. In that case, Zhang might just snatch the opportunity. He holds Wilder in high regard, impressed by what he has achieved in his career. In an interview with Boxing News, he revealed his desire.

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“I give him all the credit in the world. He is such a great fighter. He got the bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics in the cruiserweight division. And when he turned pro, he had all these magnificent knockouts. One hell of a fighter,” said Zhang, showering praises on the potential opponent.

There is also a possibility of Zhang facing the ‘Bronze Bomber’ in the undercard of Joshua vs. Ngannou and he is all for it. “I open my arms to welcome that fight with Wilder and that will be a great bang for the sport of boxing,” stated the ‘Big Bang’. The Chinese heavyweight now hopes to bag a Deontay Wilder clash in the undercard of the much-anticipated Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou fight in March.

Should fans worry about Anthony Joshua going up against Francis Ngannou?

Gareth A Davies, the respected journalist, foresees a certain knockout in a clash between heavyweight titans, expressing concern for Joshua’s standing in the boxing landscape. He emphasized the potential disruption to the status quo if Joshua were to be the one knocked out.

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Despite discussions for the bout yet to materialize, former trainer Robert Garcia has counseled Joshua against pursuing a fight with the former UFC fighter, providing advice against engaging in such a matchup. Fury had underestimated the ‘Predator’ and that did not end too well. Would Joshua make the same mistake again?

While Wilder is looking to make a comeback from his upset, Zhang is waiting in the wings to secure his next win. Would you want to see the two battle it out this March? Who do you think will throw the final punch?

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