Heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic has sent a chilling message to old rival Zhilei Zhang, claiming he will stop Zhang in front of his own people, should the two fight again.
Hrgovic edged out Zhang in a final eliminator for the IBF world title back in August, however many felt ‘Big Bang’ was hard done by not to get the decision that night and there were subsequent calls for a rematch.
In an interview with IFL TV following Zhang’s shock win over Joe Joyce last month, Hrgovic stated that he would be more than happy to travel to China to take on Zhang for a second time, and that he would bring about a much more emphatic outcome.
“I’ll come to Beijing and I’ll beat him in front of one billion Chinese people. What about that?”
“I’m a f***ing animal, man. I swear on my fathers name that I’ll go to China and I’ll knock him out. On my worst night, I beat that guy.”
“On my best night? He’s not going past six rounds.”
As much as Zhang would no doubt relish the opportunity to get his hands on the Croatian again, he will have to wait, after Joyce activated a contractual rematch clause and looks set for a shot at reclaiming the WBO interim world title this summer.
Zhang had also been rumoured as a potential opponent for WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, although these plans now look to have been scuppered unless ‘The Juggernaut’ is willing to accept a deal that would see him step aside before facing the winner towards the end of the year.