The WBO interim heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang has criticized Tyson Fury’s decision to fight Francis Ngannou.
The WBC heavyweight champion takes on Ngannou on October 28th, 2023, as the latter prepares to have his first-ever boxing bout.
While that may be the case, this was hardly the news that boxing fans were hoping for.
The negotiations between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for an undisputed fight failed, even though the Ukrainian agreed to a 70-30 split.
Zhilei Zhang: Fury is a Disgrace To Boxing For Facing Ngannou, Shame on Him! https://t.co/94fz18sAFc pic.twitter.com/6z2xMUVk7c
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) July 30, 2023
The perception, therefore, was that Fury’s demands were too high, especially since Usyk accepted the lowball offer even with three belts at his disposal. In response, this is what Zhang had to say.
“When you look at Tyson Fury – he avoided Joshua, he avoided Usyk. He chose to fight somebody who has never been in the ring before.
“[Ngannou] is a novice, he’s just turning pro. Yes he’s a UFC champion and I have respect for him, but when it comes to the ring it’s a different story. So Tyson Fury I think is a disgrace to the sport of boxing. Shame on him,” Zhang
Nevertheless, Zhang has things closer to home to worry about. He fights Joe Joyce on September 23rd, 2023, in a rematch.
In the first fight, Zhang stopped Joyce in the sixth round after the latter’s eye swelled up.
As a result, Zhang won the WBO interim heavyweight belt. And provided that he beats Joyce again, he wants Fury next.
“My team were in conversations with Tyson Fury’s team, we were very close to making that fight before the rematch clause was activated. I believe that fight [with Fury] is going to happen, one way or another,” Zhang