BoxRec

Fray Bentos wrote: ↑04 Jun 2024, 10:01 Jiacheng Zhao - for the vacant (inaugural?) Chinese heavyweight title! The fight we all want to see!

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/1214907

kinda a shame makmudov got found out, that woulda been a hype punchers clash

Wallin not a bad idea.

Homecomings tend to be easier fights, good idea to looks for a chinny fighter who doesn't run, even if the guy is only very much on the fringes, another spectacular KO will keep Zhang right in the mix.

It might sound a bit silly but can Zhang afford a walkover homecoming?

Usyk and Fury will be tied up until the end of the year and the winner will have to face Joshua/Dubois and Parker before inevitable WBC and WBA mandatories. That easily takes us to 2025.

As it stands, Zhang is WBC #9 and not ranked by the WBA. Both will need updating. However, he has rivals for the mandatory positions in both who are ranked higher such as Kabayel, Ajagba, Anderson, Bakole, Hunter/Chaney.

At 41, can he wait 2 years for a title shot?

He could also face the Fury/Usyk loser for a payday instead or Dubois/Joshua defence of a full title. I just think he has to stay at it with top 15 opponents to get himself one of those mandatories.

becoming mandatory hardly assures a shot in a timely matter either

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑04 Jun 2024, 15:54 becoming mandatory hardly assures a shot in a timely matter either

It doesn't guarantee it but when one person holds all the belts, it's pretty much the only way to get a title shot unless you're bringing a lot of money. Zhang would have to wait it out or offer that incentive.

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑04 Jun 2024, 14:49 Wallin not a bad idea.

He hasn’t got time to waste on these fights. Gotta be a big one. Not many options. Joshua would’ve been good

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑04 Jun 2024, 16:47

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑04 Jun 2024, 14:49 Wallin not a bad idea.

He hasn’t got time to waste on these fights. Gotta be a big one. Not many options. Joshua would’ve been good

I think as I said, in China, they won't care who he fights, as a homecoming fight, nice little crowd pleaser, then try and lure over one of the big names.

Zhang must still be rated highly by the WBO, he was their interim champ.
And this is boxing, in 2 years time they will be queuing up to fight him.

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑04 Jun 2024, 17:24

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑04 Jun 2024, 16:47

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑04 Jun 2024, 14:49 Wallin not a bad idea.

He hasn’t got time to waste on these fights. Gotta be a big one. Not many options. Joshua would’ve been good

I think as I said, in China, they won't care who he fights, as a homecoming fight, nice little crowd pleaser, then try and lure over one of the big names.

Yeah that could work. China just doesn’t seem that interested in big sporting events though. You’d think it was an easy sell but…

Coco wrote: ↑04 Jun 2024, 18:16 Zhang must still be rated highly by the WBO, he was their interim champ.
And this is boxing, in 2 years time they will be queuing up to fight him.

Only cus he beat Joyce. He claimed the WBO interim champion by beating Parker.

I would like to see him and Whyte

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑05 Jun 2024, 05:02

Coco wrote: ↑04 Jun 2024, 18:16 Zhang must still be rated highly by the WBO, he was their interim champ.
And this is boxing, in 2 years time they will be queuing up to fight him.

Only cus he beat Joyce. He claimed the WBO interim champion by beating Parker.

And now Parker is interim WBO champ by beating Zhang. It came full circle. Joyce got the WBO mandatory for beating Dubois, right? who is now IBF interim champ.

wrighty wrote: ↑05 Jun 2024, 05:58 I would like to see him and Whyte

Did Whyte sleep with your mrs?

smiling assassin wrote: ↑05 Jun 2024, 06:19

wrighty wrote: ↑05 Jun 2024, 05:58 I would like to see him and Whyte

Did Whyte sleep with your mum?

Yeah and he didn't buy me that new bike for Christmas that he promised

wrighty wrote: ↑05 Jun 2024, 06:21

smiling assassin wrote: ↑05 Jun 2024, 06:19

wrighty wrote: ↑05 Jun 2024, 05:58 I would like to see him and Whyte

Did Whyte sleep with your mum?

Yeah and he didn't buy me that new bike for Christmas that he promised

Zhilei Zhang is from Henan, I remember seeing scenes from ZhengZhou airport where he was absolutely mobbed flying in after one of his fights. ZhengZhou has a 60,000 seat stadium would be a great venue for a homecoming event I'm sure they'd sell it out easily. It really doesn't matter who is in the opposition corner, as long as they look the part, come to fight and don't spoil the show by beating Zhang.

visions of whyte cross eyed flashed in their heads

chinarich wrote: ↑05 Jun 2024, 11:13 Zhilei Zhang is from Henan, I remember seeing scenes from ZhengZhou airport where he was absolutely mobbed flying in after one of his fights. ZhengZhou has a 60,000 seat stadium would be a great venue for a homecoming event I'm sure they'd sell it out easily. It really doesn't matter who is in the opposition corner, as long as they look the part, come to fight and don't spoil the show by beating Zhang.

Considering he's pretty much in a position now where he may be up for a title shot, and he really just doesn't want to lose. I'd say it might be a good idea to have him Crush a few cans in this big 60,000 seat stadium in China, and wait for the bigger names not to have their dance cards full.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑05 Jun 2024, 12:28

chinarich wrote: ↑05 Jun 2024, 11:13 Zhilei Zhang is from Henan, I remember seeing scenes from ZhengZhou airport where he was absolutely mobbed flying in after one of his fights. ZhengZhou has a 60,000 seat stadium would be a great venue for a homecoming event I'm sure they'd sell it out easily. It really doesn't matter who is in the opposition corner, as long as they look the part, come to fight and don't spoil the show by beating Zhang.

Considering he's pretty much in a position now where he may be up for a title shot, and he really just doesn't want to lose. I'd say it might be a good idea to have him Crush a few cans in this big 60,000 seat stadium in China, and wait for the bigger names not to have their dance cards full.

Is Chauncey Welliver still a thing?

chauncey welliver, former wbo chinese heavyweight champion

https://boxrec.com/en/event/627120/1620827

Tipped the scale at 378 last time out

gilgamesh wrote: ↑05 Jun 2024, 12:28

chinarich wrote: ↑05 Jun 2024, 11:13 Zhilei Zhang is from Henan, I remember seeing scenes from ZhengZhou airport where he was absolutely mobbed flying in after one of his fights. ZhengZhou has a 60,000 seat stadium would be a great venue for a homecoming event I'm sure they'd sell it out easily. It really doesn't matter who is in the opposition corner, as long as they look the part, come to fight and don't spoil the show by beating Zhang.

Considering he's pretty much in a position now where he may be up for a title shot, and he really just doesn't want to lose. I'd say it might be a good idea to have him Crush a few cans in this big 60,000 seat stadium in China, and wait for the bigger names not to have their dance cards full.

Precisely, and I suspect that China will be up for the sportswashing kool aid, now the beijing olympics has faded from the collective memory.

Ok I know this wouldn't happen as both men have a lot to lose but Zhang and Wardley would be a nice fight