Zhilei Zhang fight plans revealed by promoter Bob Arum
WBO interim heavyweight champion, Zhilei Zhang, has a tough fight against former world champion, Joseph Parker, on Friday night, March 8.
But, what makes the bout all the more exciting is the expectancy that the victor will become the mandatory challenger for a shot at one or more world titles in boxing’s most glamourous division.
Now, Zhang’s future plans, should he defeat the likeable Kiwi, have been revealed.
As ever, an undisputed title fight comes with its complications and the historic battle between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is no different.
However, the winner of Joshua-Ngannou has also been promised a title fight against the winner of Fury-Usyk, whether that be by paying a hefty step-aside fee or by waiting until after their rematch. So where does that leave the WBO and Zhilei Zhang?
Despite a strong position with the WBO that has left the 40-year-old with a target on his head, ‘Big Bang’ Zhang is unlikely to fight for the full world title until next year, opening the door for yet another interim fight.
In an interview with Boxing Scene, Top Rank chairman, Bob Arum, now 92, confirmed that Zhang would be lined up for a homecoming.
“The plan is to have him fight in Macau,”
“A good fight; it’ll be against a top-10 guy.”
Zhang was previously linked to a contest against Tyson Fury in China, with the MGM Casino in Macau also being touted as a possible venue. However, the Cotai Arena is another option, after the 15,000-seater hosted two Manny Pacquiao cards promoted by Arum in the 2010’s.
This would be Zhang’s first fight in the region of Macau, whilst his last fight in China came way back in 2018.
Zhang is arguably China’s most decorated boxer of all-time and not many are aware that he has already defeated Joseph Parker before, in the amateurs. Find out many more interesting facts about the Zhang HERE