The heavyweight boxer Zhilei Zhang has revealed his plans after defeating Deontay Wilder. The Chinese giant has set his sights on a potential high-profile fight against Jake Paul, making it clear that he is willing to face the popular YouTuber if the opportunity arises.
On Saturday, November 9, 2024, Mike Tyson will make a controversial return to the ring to face Paul, a controversial YouTuber-turned-boxer. Nevertheless, Zhang will be watching closely to see what happens during this bout. Previously, the heavyweight has already expressed interest in a potential fight against Paul.
Zhang’s last fight took place against Deontay Wilder on June 1, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In this bout, the Chinese boxer managed to defeat Wilder by TKO in the fifth round.
The knockout against the former WBC world champion represented the most significant victory of his career, revitalizing his professional trajectory after a tough loss to Joseph Parker.
In March, Zhang lost by majority decision in the interim WBO heavyweight title fight, despite knocking Parker down twice.
Zhilei Zhang currently holds a record of 27 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw.
In an exclusive interview with the Express, Zhang responded to speculations about a possible match against the internet star. While the 41-year-old boxer did not hide his interest in facing Paul, he made it clear that it would primarily be a financial endeavor.
“Yes, I will do that. And who doesn’t want to make some money? It’s a money grab if that happens,” Zhang stated.
Now, the influencer will face the legendary Mike Tyson, and Zhilei Zhang did not hesitate to praise Tyson, calling him his childhood idol.
The Chinese boxer also defended the legitimacy of the fight between Paul and Tyson, acknowledging the public’s divided opinions. Additionally, he wished Tyson the best of luck, expressing his admiration for the former world champion.
“I watched Mike Tyson’s fights growing up, and he’s like the god of war in my mind. Now in his 60s, he’s fighting a guy in his 20s, which is an incredible achievement already. I really hope for the best for him, and I wish him good luck,” Zhang commented.
The dominant victory over Wilder has elevated Zhang’s reputation but has also brought complications for the Chinese fighter. According to him, his triumph has discouraged many of his division peers from facing him. Zhang explained that his team is struggling to find willing opponents, as many prefer to avoid fighting him.
Despite the challenges in finding opponents, Zhang’s main target for next year is to face the IBF heavyweight world champion, Daniel Dubois. The Chinese giant expressed interest in fighting Dubois, especially after his surprising victory over Anthony Joshua.
If the opportunity arises, Zhilei Zhang has already made it clear he is interested in facing Jake Paul. However, we will have to wait for the outcome of the fight between Mike Tyson and the controversial YouTuber, as well as the possibility of a fight between Zhang and Daniel Dubois in 2025.
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