Heavyweight fan-favourite Zhilei Zhang has been linked to a showdown with Martin Bakole all week, with the winner likely to move on to a world title shot. After allowing Bakole to call for the scrap, Zhang has now responded and has delivered a damning warning to the Congolese contender.
Zhang was very much on the periphery of a world title contest after becoming WBO mandatory challenger with back-to-back knockout wins over Joe Joyce during 2023. However, Joseph Parker was able to upset the apple cart this February as he handed the Chinese veteran a second career defeat and assumed his position in the world title picture, although Zhang was able to bounce back with an impressive stoppage win over Deontay Wilder a few months later.
Meanwhile, Martin Bakole has been eagerly awaiting his opportunity to show his qualities on the big stage and he took his chance on Saturday night, brutally knocking out the highly-rated Jared Anderson in the fifth-round of what proved to be a one-sided beatdown.
Since then, Bakole has been calling for a fight with the 41-year-old southpaw and in an interview with Seconds Out, ‘Big Bang’ Zhang claimed that he would be able to replicate Bakole’s success against Anderson and halt his rival within five rounds.
“He did really great, I respect him as a person and I respect him as a fighter and I would be really interested in fighting him. Everything is possible, I am open to everything.
“That is what every opponent of mine says before a fight, everyone wants to make me cry, everyone wants to retire me but come see what happens. We don’t do the talk, we do the action, we are fighters.
“[I would stop him in] less than five [rounds].”
Boxing fans around the globe appear to have universally accepted that the prospect of a battle between Bakole and Zhang is a salivating one and all signs seem to lead to a meeting between the colossal duo on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch with Tyson Fury for the unified heavyweight titles.
As Bakole holds the position as number one contender for the WBA belt, the victor of his and Zhang’s encounter is expected to move on to a shot at world honours. Although, Usyk has indicated that he has little more to prove in the sport and there are growing suspicions that he could hang up the gloves or at least vacate some of his titles if he is successful against ‘The Gypsy King’ once again.
Consequently, there is every chance that the winner of Bakole-Zhang could find themselves positioned in a bout for the vacant title, quite possibly against the WBA (Regular) champion Manuel Charr – who both men would be expected to defeat with relative ease.
Usyk-Fury II takes place on December 21st in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with further details regarding the undercard to be released in due course, where Bakole-Zhang is anticipated to act as an additional attraction.
Boxing Social is now on WhatsApp! Join our channel by clicking here and getting all the latest boxing news direct to your phone.