Manager Tommy Lane confirms Zhilei Zhang will travel to London to face Anthony Joshua
Zhilei Zhang’s manager, Tommy Lane, has told Vegas Insider he backs the Chinese boxer to provide Anthony Joshua with a big challenge if his fight with Tyson Fury falls flat again.
Lane also suggested Fury's proposed bout with AJ is a negotiation tactic from the Gypsy King to fight Oleksandr Usyk.
AJ has accepted terms from Fury's camp to fight in December, but negotiations are on hold while the UK mourns the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Here's what Lane had to say:
Zhilei Zhang has all of China behind him and is ready to fight Anthony Joshua if he wants it
"Zhang just beat Hrgovic who many top contenders have avoided and flat turned down. We know Zhang didn’t get his hand raised, but Zhang won that fight. Also, Hrgovic took a beating and needs some time to recover. Zhang went back to the hotel after the fight, Hrgovic went to the hospital.
"AJ and Zhang are on the same schedule. They fought last on the same night. Zhang didn’t get hurt during his fight, he’s already back in the gym and will be fresh and ready to go if AJ want’s it. Zhang and Joshua also have history and unfinished business from the amateurs, when they fought in the 2012 Olympics. Zhang has all of China behind him, and AJ is still one of the main faces of professional boxing. Joshua v Zhang is by far the biggest fight out of the other options Eddie Hearn has publicly mentioned."
AJ vs Fury may not happen – it’s clearly a negotiation tactic from Fury
"I’m not sure if Fury vs Joshua gets made. I think Joshua wants it, but you never know what Fury’s intentions or plans are. This might be a negotiation tactic with Usyk, or someone else. Only Fury knows. I don’t think Joshua beats Fury, but it’s another shot at the heavyweight championship for a ton of money, so I don’t think you can say it’s the wrong fight for AJ. But if that fight falls through we're ready, willing, and able to come to London to fight Joshua when he's ready. Given their styles, AJ v Zhang would promise to be an explosive fight for the fans."
