Zhilei Zhang’s two wins over Joe Joyce in 2023 have left him in prime position going into the new year.
The 40-year-old from Zhoukou, China snatched the Brit’s WBO mandatory position with a stoppage win in April and did it even more impressively in their September rematch.
Unfortunately for fans, Zhang missed out on a fight on the bumper December 23 Saudi Arabia event, but has promised he will return in a big way over the next few months.
One man who did shine on that card was Daniel Dubois, who exercised some demons by surviving the intense pressure put on him by Jarrell Miller – both pre-fight and in the ring – to score a final round stoppage.
Zhang had praise for Dubois’ potential, but told FightHype that it was too early for the 26-year-old to think of facing him.
“I would say it might be too early for him to get in the ring with me. I can see his potential, and I can see his mentality is being built stronger and stronger, maybe one or two fights down the line but right now it’s probably a bit early.”
“It should be [easier than the Joyce fight.] I’ve been paying really close attention to these guys. I keep my eyes on them, so it should be pretty easy.”
Dubois proved to fans, pundits and fellow fighters that he has the heart to come out on the winning end of a real fight – something that he had been questioned on earlier in the year when he was stopped by Oleksandr Usyk and missed the count despite, in some minds, seeming okay to continue.
His resurgence is good for the division, and promoter Frank Warren believes he’s back at the top table. Whether or not the veteran boxing man risks a fight with his other charge, Zhang, remains to be seen.