As you know, if the British ex-world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) fails to agree on a duel with compatriot Tyson Fury (32-0-1, 23 KOs) on December 3, then Joshua will enter the ring December 17 against another opponent.
The representative of China Zhang Zhilei (24-1-1, 19 KOs) really wants to become the “other rival”, as stated in an interview
Vegas Insider said his manager Tommy Lane.
Recall that on August 20, as part of the Usyk-Joshua 2 boxing evening in Saudi Arabia, Zhang had an IBF Candidates fight against Croat Filip Hrgovic and was defeated on points in a very competitive confrontation.
“Zhang beat Hrgovic, who was avoided by many top contenders. And even though his hand was not raised after the fight, we know that Zhang won,” says Lane. “Besides, Hrgovic needs time to recover after this beating. After the fight, he was taken to the hospital, while Zhang went to his hotel.”
“Zhang and Joshua have the same schedule – one fought within the same evening. Zhang took no damage in battle and had already returned to the hall. He will be fresh and ready to fight if Anthony wants to, – says the manager. – Zhang and Joshua have a common history, unfinished business since amateurs when they boxed at the 2012 Olympics. The whole of China is behind Zhang, and AJ remains one of the main faces of profiboxing. Joshua vs. Zhang is far ahead of all the other options voiced by Eddie Hearn.”
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