Despite a recent knockout loss at the age of 42, many fans believed they had seen the final professional fight of Zhilei Zhang. However, the formidable Chinese heavyweight has now dismissed any talk of retirement and shared his future intentions.
The popular fighter Zhang, holding a record of 27-3-1 with 22 knockouts, has established himself as a genuine contender in the heavyweight division. He notably twice tested the widely regarded solid chin of Joe Joyce and delivered a spectacular knockout victory over Deontay Wilder.
Nevertheless, February saw the well-regarded southpaw suffer the first knockout defeat of his career when Agit Kabayel, after being knocked down earlier, recovered to stop the tiring `Big Bang` with a body shot in the sixth round of their bout for the WBC interim title.
Consequently, Zhang`s aspirations of becoming China`s first heavyweight world champion have been significantly impacted. However, the 2008 Olympic silver medallist revealed on his YouTube channel that giving up on his ambition has not even crossed his mind.
“Turning 42 isn`t the finish line; it marks the start of a fresh chapter,” he asserted. “I haven`t put my fists down yet.”
“All of my recent five or six fights have been at the elite level against top-tier opponents,” he commented. “I never pick easy fights; others often take interim bouts after a difficult contest to readjust. Every one of those opponents was younger than me, but I continue to pose a considerable threat to them.”
“I turned professional at 31, which is typically the age most Chinese boxers consider retiring,” Zhang explained. “I`m now in my 40s, but for me, age is just a figure. I`m confident that I possess the capability to perform at the highest standard, and my body is in good condition.”
“Retiring has never been something I`ve thought about,” he declared. “However, if a time comes when my body no longer functions properly, that will be when I decide to hang up my gloves.”
Having undergone surgery and rehabilitation for an elbow injury following the loss to Kabayel, Zhang also stated that he intends to return to action before the end of the current year, mentioning Anthony Joshua as a potential opponent.
“I hope to fight again by late this year,” he said. “If Anthony Joshua is interested, I`m ready – anywhere. This fight has been discussed for many years but never materialized. It would be fantastic if we could finally make it happen this time.”
“My dream remains unfulfilled as of now,” he commented. “I am still pursuing it, still on the path to being the best, to becoming a world champion. I am still just one step away from that objective, but reaching it requires significant effort.”
Similar to Zhang, `AJ` is also scheduled for elbow surgery soon and is expected to be out of the ring until the end of the year, suggesting that their schedules could align perfectly for a potential showdown in late 2025.
