ZHILEI ZHANG claims everyone will be a winner if he fights Anthony Joshua next – except the Brit in the ring.
The 6ft 6ins Chinese heavyweight known as “Big Bang” has now called out AJ TWICE since the ex-world champ’s weekend walloping of Otto Wallin.
Anthony Joshua outclassed Otto Wallin in Riyadh in SaturdayGetty
ReutersJoshua is back in the big time after his third straight win of 2023[/caption]
GettyZhilei Zhang hailed his second victory over Brit Joe Joyce in September[/caption]
Joshua is tipped to take on Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic instead of Deontay Wilder as Joseph Parker stunned the American on the same Saudi bill as AJ.
But Zhang believes that bout would be boring – in contrast to the “fireworks” and “commercial sense” of him challenging the Londoner.
The 40-year-old boxing pride of Asia KO’d Joe Joyce in both of his last two contests but has previously lost to Hrgovic.
However, Zhang insists fans would love to see a revenge bid on Joshua, who beat him on the way to 2012 Olympics gold.
He posted on Instagram: “I lost to a better man 11 years.
“I’m happy we have both come a long way, gone through ups and downs in life.
“Now it’s time to do this for the sport of boxing and give it to the fans around the world. Let’s get it on!”
But Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed Hrgovic is his likeliest opponent – ahead of a possible title blockbuster against the winner of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk.
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AJ is back in the big time following three victories in 2023, with the third and by far the best coming after seven dominant rounds against Wallin.
However, Zhang said: ” When you look at Joshua’s potential fight with Hrgovic, I just don’t think it makes that much commercial sense.
“If he comes to me, the whole of England will be watching, and the whole of China, and the whole Middle East. Everybody will be watching.
“It’s not only going to be fireworks. It’s going to be explosive. You’re going to see dynamite because we had history, and I want to make it right.”
He added: “Joshua’s past opponents are Usyk, southpaw, Otto Wallin, southpaw, and I think he’s very comfortable and he’s been really good at fighting southpaws, and I’m a southpaw.
“So, let’s get it. Credit to Parker, but I want to get Joshua next.”