Zhilei Zhang believes Anthony Joshua is ducking him.
In 2012, Zhang and Joshua met within the quarterfinals of the Olympics, the place Joshua received a call en path to taking dwelling the gold medal. Since then, Zhang has been desirous about operating issues again within the skilled ranks, however even after his stoppage win over Deontay Wilder in June, “Large Bang” thinks he’s unlikely to ever get an opportunity to avenge that loss.
“Mark my phrases, he’s not preventing me,” Zhang mentioned Wednesday on The MMA Hour by way of a translator. “He’s not going to struggle me, ever. As a result of after the 2012 Olympic Video games, that was once we initially collided. After that, it’s been so a few years. I used to be with Matchroom [Boxing] and I do know what occurred. I don’t assume he’s ever going to struggle me. My managers flew to London and I received phrases. So I don’t assume he’s going to struggle me.
“Take a look at his earlier opponents. Francis Ngannou from the UFC, Robert Helenius — I don’t assume he has what it takes to face up towards me. The best way he picks his opponents says rather a lot about him.”
Following their bout on the Olympics, each males went on flip amass spectacular skilled information, with Zhang claiming the interim WBO heavyweight belt and Joshua turning into a two-time unified heavyweight champion. For years, Joshua seemed to be the subsequent huge factor in boxing and Zhang says his promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, protected that funding.
“Neither does Eddie. They don’t need it,” Zhang mentioned. “He’s a money cow for Eddie.
“The closest time we needed to getting the deal performed was after AJ misplaced to Usyk and I misplaced to Filip Hrgovic in Saudi Arabia. My managers received an invite, flew to London to speak to them, and received a no.
“I don’t know why. I don’t have a cause. That’s his downside. But when he ever needs to struggle, I’m in.”
Regardless of his many accomplishments, Joshua additionally confronted harsh criticism over a lot of the previous a number of years. After struggling a shocking upset defeat to Andy Ruiz in 2019, Joshua turned a extra tentative fighter, delivering tepid performances in a lot of his subsequent bouts. Nonetheless, since dropping back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua seems to be again to high type, stringing collectively 4 straight wins, three by stoppage. However Zhang says he can’t be certain whether or not Joshua is “again” or if he’s merely being preventing overmatched competitors.
“Possibly folks say he’s again,” Zhang mentioned. “He knocked out Ngannou in two rounds, he beat Robert Helenius, knocked him out, and he beat Jermaine Franklin, Otto Wallin. I can’t say he’s again till I meet him within the ring and take a look at him with my fists.”
Sadly for Zhang, that doesn’t look like on the horizon anytime quickly. Joshua fights Daniel Dubois in September for the IBF heavyweight title, and will he win, that most certainly units up an undisputed heavyweight title struggle with the winner of the Usyk vs. Tyson Fury rematch, which takes place someday later this yr.
So with Joshua not on the menu for the second, Zhang hopes for a shot at a unique sort of redemption: Avenging his majority resolution loss to Joseph Parker from March.
“I’m wanting on the top-ranked guys,” Zhang mentioned. “Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are positively ranked No. 1 and No. 2 on the planet, and I’m trying to struggle them, for positive. Should you go down the rankings, Agit Kabayel is extremely ranked, in order that might be on my radar as effectively. [Or] Parker. Rematch.”
