The WBO heavyweight interim champion Zhilei Zhang is urging Eddie Hearn to back up his words about wanting to make a fight between him and Anthony Joshua.
The 40-year-old Chinese is a man in demand after stopping Joe Joyce in back-to-back fights to become the WBO mandatory for Oleksandr Usyk. But since that mandatory will not be called until some time next year, the attention turned towards Zhang’s next fight. The heavyweight called out Tyson Fury, but that is unlikely to happen anytime soon since the Gypsy King will face Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title. Meanwhile, Hearn talked up the possibility of Zhang facing Joshua in China. In response, the Chinese has now called on Hearn to make an offer.
“I think Joshua is a big option for me considering Fury and Usyk have signed for a unification fight to happen next. I have history with Anthony Joshua, and I used to be with Matchroom Boxing, but they never wanted to make the fight with me. All of a sudden, there is now talk from Eddie Hearn about a fight between myself and Anthony Joshua, but I never saw anything materialize with the fight.
“If they are really interested, I am here 24/7 so send over the contract and we will get it on. When I was with Matchroom, my team spoke to Matchroom face to face, and they knew I wanted the fight, but they never decided to make it for whatever reason. I can go to London for the fight with Joshua, Saudi Arabia is an option or even China,” Zhang
As of now, however, Hearn’s focus for Joshua appears to be a fight against Deontay Wilder or Francis Ngannou. A fight in Saudi Arabia with the ‘Bronze Bomber’ broke down, while Ngannou has distanced himself from facing Joshua for now by aiming to get a rematch with Fury. However, a win over Zhang would put AJ in a mandatory position for a world title. And if the goal is to become a three-time world champion, then that might be a move worth exploring.