Zhilei Zhang still has ambitions of becoming world heavyweight champion.
The hard-hitting Chinese heavyweight has enjoyed a career resurgence over the past few years, beginning when he picked up back-to-back stoppage victories over Joe Joyce.
Despite a majority decision defeat to Joseph Parker, Zhang bounced back with a huge fifth round knockout win over Deontay Wilder in June, reaffirming his position as one of the best heavyweights in the world.
Zhang will hope to move one step closer to a world title shot when he faces undefeated Agit Kabayel on February 22, on the same card as Daniel Dubois defending his IBF heavyweight belt against Parker.
The Chinese star will have his eyes on the winner of the that bout, along with what unified champion Oleksandr Usyk plans to do next, but that hasn’t stopped another heavyweight rival claiming that he will knock out Zhang.
Martin Bakole is a top contender who last time out knocked out Jared Anderson inside five rounds. He returns to action in May against Efe Ajagba in an IBF final eliminator, hoping to secure his own world heavyweight title shot.
Bakole has been branded as a ‘future heavyweight king’ by Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk, and the Congo man has famously claimed to have got the upper hand in sparring sessions against the Ukrainian, as well as the likes of Dubois and Anthony Joshua.
Whilst discussing the current heavyweight landscape, Bakole has revealed on social media how he feels a fight against Zhang would go, admitting it would be difficult but believing he would secure the stoppage victory.
“Big man, tough. Hard fight. [I would] knock him out.”
Bakole has accused Zhang in the past of ‘running’ from a fight with him.
“I came to give Zhang his shoes. He is running away. I am in Congo training hard for big Zhang, but I heard he said no to the fight. Your team is protecting you and don’t want you to get knocked out.”
