---
title: "Zhilei Zhang Has No Doubt Who Wins Joshua-Ngannou"
canonical: "https://boxing-social.com/news/zhang-gives-joshua-ngannou-verdict/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Tom Eaton"
section: "News"
published: "2024-01-23T11:16:27Z"
modified: "2024-01-23T11:19:26Z"
---

# Zhilei Zhang Has No Doubt Who Wins Joshua-Ngannou

WBO Interim Heavyweight Champion Zhilei Zhang has given his prediction ahead of the upcoming showdown between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou, where he gave a controversial take on the night’s action.

Zhang twice knocked out the formidably chinned Joe Joyce to claim the spot as WBO mandatory challenger and position himself for a shot at the victor of Fury-Usyk.

However, despite being well-poised for a title challenge, ‘Big Bang’ Zhang has opted to stay active and risk losing that position, by facing Joseph Parker on the Joshua-Ngannou card, just two-and-a-half months after [Parker’s career-best win against Deontay Wilder.](https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/13036989/joseph-parker-shocks-deontay-wilder-in-heavyweight-upset)

[In an interview with Fight Hype](https://youtu.be/fkTz6p0Pv-Q?si=lVAyFuHojzDG72gf), Zhang declared that real boxing fans will recognise that his bout is the true main-event of the card, labelling Joshua-Ngannou as nothing more than a ten-round exhibition with ‘no question’ that ‘AJ’ will come out on top.

> “I think, from my perspective, that is a ten-round exhibition. A lot of people are going to tune in to watch that fight because they want to see boxing versus MMA, Joshua versus Ngannou, two famous athletes going at each other.
>
> “To me, there is no question that Joshua will get the victory and it’s just, like I said, a ten-round exhibition and if you really look at it from boxing perspective, you know who the main-event will be.”

Eddie Hearn has defended the Joshua-Ngannou fight, arguing that the jeopardy involved and the performance of Ngannou against Tyson Fury makes it a legitimately tough contest for Joshua, despite the Cameroonian’s official 0-1 record.

The Matchroom promoter also claims that the winner will get a shot at the undisputed title, but the itchy feet of the IBF and the [Fury-Usyk rematch clause](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/rematch-clause-for-fury-usyk/) cast doubt upon the truth of that statement.