Anthony Joshua looks set to return at the start of 2026 but is still looking for an opponent.
Joshua is a former two-time unified heavyweight ruler and once king of the division. However, a number of losses have set him back in the last few years.
Back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 202 left him beltless, though he rebuilt well with KO wins over Otto Wallin, Francis Ngannou and Robert Helenius and a points victory over Jermaine Franklin.
That led him to challenge Daniel Dubois for the IBF world title, but he was knocked out inside five rounds last September and has not fought since following minor elbow surgery.
His promoter Eddie Hearn has admitted Joshua’s return will be against someone in the top 20, but one man who has previously knocked out Deontay Wilder has now thrown his name into the hat once more.
Speaking to BoxNation, Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang was asked about his thoughts on a possible match-up with ‘AJ.’
“When it comes to Joshua, I think everyone knows where I stand. The question is whether Joshua and his team want it. I’m here waiting.”
Zhang is north of 40-years-old but still presents a big problem for anyone. He has won 27 of his 31 contests, 22 by knockout, including beating Joe Joyce twice.
He has also fought the likes of Joseph Parker and Filip Hrgovic, but the biggest win of his career arguably came in June 2024, when he knocked out former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder in brutal fashion.
Zhang still throws plenty of big shots so whether or not Joshua and his team would see sufficient reward in taking this challenge is yet to be seen. as he has also been linked with Arslanbek Makhmudov.
