Following Zhilei Zhang’s incredible stoppage of Joe Joyce in London, many fans have called for him to step in against Anthony Joshua.
The two heavyweights fought on the amateur scene at the London 2012 Olympics quarter-finals, with Joshua dropping Zhang in the second round to go on and win a 15-11 points decision. He won Gold and turned professional one year later.
As things stand, Carl Froch thinks the result would be flipped in the pros. He told Best Gambling Sites that the Brit’s current form wasn’t inspiring.
“I think it’s a great fight and I can see how either of them could win that.
AJ is younger and fresher and he seems fit for 12 rounds and Zhang tires after five or six, and he’s getting old at 41 years old, but at the minute, with AJ’s previous performances, especially his last couple against Franklin and Helenius. Based on those performances, I did not see anything there that beats Zhang.”
Having said that, Froch says that potential lies in the bout for Joshua, believing ‘Big Bang’s style to be the acid test as to whether or not he can return to his previous style of searching for a stoppage through accurate and punishing combinations.
But, like Tony Bellew said, if he’s put under pressure and is forced to fight, maybe the old AJ will come back. I’m not going to sit here and say AJ loses to Zhang, but I’m making Zhang the favourite based on AJ’s last two performances.”
Joshua has been criticised of late for fighting tentatively, something pundits believe he can’t do should he land the bout he’s chasing against Deontay Wilder. The same likely applies to Zhang, who was quick to get Joyce out of there with a thudding right hand.
News as to who and when the two-time world champion will fight next is expected soon.