Deontay Wilder vs Zhilei Zhang Next? Both Sides Say They Want The Fight

Talk of a potential heavyweight clash between WBO mandatory Zhilei Zhang and former WBC champion Deontay Wilder has begun – and Zhang’s promoter, Frank Warren, thinks it’s a ‘great fight.’

Zhang has very much put himself in the picture for match-ups with some of the biggest names in the sport having turned in two impressive back-to-back performances earlier this year against the formerly unstoppable Brit Joe Joyce.

In both contests, ‘Big Bang’ stopped The Juggernaut without taking much damage himself and since then has been vocal in calling out Tyson Fury.

This week, Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott has been talking up the possibility of his man facing Zhang, saying he would like to see ‘The Bronze Bomber’ knock him out.

Speaking to Boxing Social, Warren – who continues his partnership with Zhang following the Joyce bouts – says it’s a ‘great fight’ that he wouldn’t have any problem making.

“That’s a great fight, I wouldn’t have a problem making that fight, let’s see what happens.”

We’ll see, we’ll see. Zhilei’s with us and he’s made a massive impact and at the moment is mandatory for the WBO version of the title so he’ll be wanting to get his mandatory and get his shot at the title.”

The promoter then said that the mandatories would all play out next year once Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have fought in their historic undisputed clash for all four of the major world titles. He says Zhang will fight before then.

“In the meantime, he will fight, and whether that’s Deontay or not we will see.”

Wilder has long been linked with a fight with Anthony Joshua, but after an offer from Saudi Arabia’s Skill Challenge Entertainment was withdrawn that clash looks unlikely to happen anytime soon.