Zhilei Zhang is now a man with a target on his back.
The late blooming 41-year-old from China has had a busy couple of years that have very much got him into the picture at the top of the heavyweight division.
Last year he twice beat Joe Joyce in impressive fashion, both times via stoppage. However, he then came unstick against Joseph Parker and, despite having him down twice, ran out on the wrong end of a points decision after 12 rounds.
He got back to winning ways in June when he managed to knock down and then stop American hitter Deontay Wilder out in Saudi Arabia on the 5 v 5 Matchroom v Queensberry card.
One man who now has him in his sights is Martin Bakole, who has stopped Carlos Takam and most recently the promising American prospect Jared Anderson in his last two contests. Post-Anderson KO, he announced himself as ‘the most avoided man on the planet’ due to the top dogs turning down fights.
Speaking to talkSPORT Boxing, Bakole was asked about who he would most like to face next.
“Like I said after [my last] fight, I am open to everyone. And especially I am open to ‘Big Bang’ cause I know I can stop him no matter where the fight is going to be in China, in Saudi Arabia, in UK, in America, I am ready to face him.”
He was asked how the fight would go and predicted a KO given his experience of facing southpaws.
“I will make him pay because all my life I learned boxing from my brother who is a southpaw. You can ask Usyk, I stopped him on a body shot because I know how to stop [southpaws]. I think it will be much easier for me. I know he’s a tough and a good fighter but I will stop him. Believe me.”
Zhang seems open to the fight and has claimed that he would win within five rounds. Riyadh Season’s Turki Alalshikh has thrown his backing behind it too, announcing that he is exploring the option of China playing host.
